Originally published in 1986, this book grew out of a symposium held in 1981 at the University of Toronto on physical appearance as a determinant of personality and social behavior. There is little doubt that one's appearance has some impact on the way one is perceived and treated; and presumably, owing to the socially reflected nature of the self, one's personality likewise will be affected by one's appearance. The questions arising from these basic observations and assumptions are many, and the expert contributors were invited to discuss their research on some of the implications of individual differences in appearance as they ramify into personality and social interaction. The chapters in this volume are the outcome of those discussions and cover the areas of facial attractiveness; physique; impact on social behavior, and deviance. Still a topic of interest to this day, this book can now be read and enjoyed in its historical context.

Originally published in 1981, this volume presents papers from the first Ontario Symposium on Personality and Social Psychology held at the University of Western Ontario from August 25-27, 1978. The general theme of the symposium was social cognition. The chapters have been grouped into two major parts. Chapters 1-5 focus on the implications of cognitive structures for social cognition, with particular emphasis on the nature of social schemata and the organization of social information. Chapters 6-11 focus on the consequences for social cognition of various cognitive processes and mechanisms, including verbal and nonverbal communicative processes, category accessibility, salience and selective attention, hypothesis-testing, and self-centered biases. Chapter 12 comments on the general perspectives taken in the previous chapters and suggests some additional directions for future consideration. Today it can be read and enjoyed in its historical context.

Originally published in 1988, the purpose of this book was to explore the interrelations among communication, social cognition and affect. The contributors, selected by the editors, were some of the best known in their fields and they significantly added to the knowledge of this interdisciplinary domain at the time. In late April 1986 the authors met at a conference centre at the University of Kentucky. They presented first drafts of their chapters and exchanged ideas. Out of these interactions came this book, which has a broad interest across several areas of psychology and communication. While answering a number of questions, the authors also posed others for future examination.

This special issue features papers that offer deeply felt, valuable perspectives on diverse aspects of theory construction in social-personality psychology. The goal is to furnish a basis for starting a discussion about the considerable challenges of theorizing, the ways of meeting those challenges, and the great rewards that successful theorizing offers to the discipline as a whole.

This special issue features papers that offer deeply felt, valuable perspectives on diverse aspects of theory construction in social-personality psychology. The goal is to furnish a basis for starting a discussion about the considerable challenges of theorizing, the ways of meeting those challenges, and the great rewards that successful theorizing offers to the discipline as a whole.

Originally published in 1988, the purpose of this book was to explore the interrelations among communication, social cognition and affect. The contributors, selected by the editors, are some of the best known in their fields and they significantly added to the knowledge of this interdisciplinary domain at the time. In late April 1986 the authors met at a conference centre at the University of Kentucky. They presented first drafts of their chapters and exchanged ideas. Out of these interactions came this book, which has a broad interest across several areas of psychology and communication. While answering a number of questions, the authors also posed other questions for future examination.

Why do people feel, think, and act the way they do? Cognitive variables are not enough to answer these questions. Motivational variables are also necessary, and motivation operates together with cognition to produce combined effects. What is it about motivation that is different than cognition but works together with cognition to produce thoughts, feelings, and actions? This is a basic question for all psychologists and the question that inspired this book of readings. Motivational science is concerned with the nature and functions of wanting and their relation to knowing, feeling and doing. Despite the central importance of motivational science to psychology, there is no current collection of articles that define the field. This reader provides an outstanding overview of classic and current articles in social-personality that address major issues in motivational science.
The articles in this reader were selected and edited for readability, interest, and centrality to motivational science. The reader provides an excellent introduction to social-personality contributions to motivational science at a level suitable for both advanced undergraduates and graduate students. It could be used both as a basic textbook for advanced courses in motivation and as a supplement to introductory courses in social-personality. Researchers, instructors, and practitioners in motivational science would also benefit from having these important articles readily available for the first time in a single sourcebook.
The reader begins with an original paper by the editors that introduces the social-personality perspective on motivational science and provides an integrated review of empirical and theoretical contributions. Major issues in motivational science are identified that form the basis for the organization of the book. Each section of the book also has a brief introduction, suggested additional readings, and questions for discussion.

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The second volume in this innovative two-volume set, Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology, provides a comprehensive exploration of the major developments of social psychological theories that have taken place over the past half century, culminating in a state of the art overview of the primary theories and models that have been developed in this vast and fascinating field.Volume Two covers Interpersonal Level of Analysis, Group and Cultural Level of Analysis. Authored by leading international experts, each chapter represents a personal and historical narrative of the theory's development including the inspirations, critical junctures, and problem-solving efforts that effected theoretical choices and determined the theory's impact and its evolution. Unique to this handbook, these narratives provide a rich background for understanding how theories are created, nurtured, and shaped over time, and examining their unique contribution to the field as a whole. To examine its societal impact, each theory is evaluated in terms of its applicability to better understanding and solving critical social issues and problems. The Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology, Volume Two is an essential resource for researchers and students of social psychology and related disciplines.

The first volume in this innovative two-volume set provides a comprehensive exploration of the major developments of social psychological theories that have taken place over the past half century, culminating in a state of the art overview of the primary theories and models that have been developed in this vast and fascinating field. Volume One covers Biological/Evolutionary Level of Analysis, Cognitive Level of Analysis, Content Model and Motivational and Affective Level of Analysis. Authored by leading international experts, each chapter represents a personal and historical narrative of the theory's development including the inspirations, critical junctures, and problem-solving efforts that effected theoretical choices and determined the theory's impact and its evolution. Unique to this handbook, these narratives provide a rich background for understanding how theories are created, nurtured, and shaped over time, and examining their unique contribution to the field as a whole. To examine its societal impact, each theory is evaluated in terms of its applicability to better understanding and solving critical social issues and problems. The Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology, Volume One is an essential resource for researchers and students of social psychology and related disciplines.

This general reader in Social Psychology is unique in its nonreductionistic approach to the discipline and is characterized by a multiplicity of perspectives.
It is ordered in terms of levels of analysis whereby social phenomena can be understood, starting with the biological level and then moving on to the cognitive, personal/motivational, interpersonal, group, and cultural level of analysis. No one level of analysis is considered more basic or adequate for explaining social phenomena than any other level, nor do these levels compete. Rather, it is believed that each makes a vital contribution and does so in a unique way.
The articles in this volume have been selected on the basis of their readability, accessibility, and brevity. They include not only highly influential papers which have had an outstanding impact on the field, but also papers that showcase important social psychological principles. Each article in the anthology is followed by a list of suggested readings that round out the picture and convey a good sense of the substantive issues, approaches and methods that characterize a given domain of study. This reader will provide an invaluable resource for undergraduates and postgraduates of Social Psychology.


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In psychology there has been an explosion of interest in what has come to be called social cognition. How do people categorise and conceptualise social situations, obligations and relationships? And what are the implications of their categorisations and conceptualisations for behaviour? Developmental and social psychologists are currently converging on the developmental roots of social cognitive abilities. This timely 1983 book offers a useful overview of research and theory concerning social cognition and social behaviour in children at the time of this book's publication. A full range of theoretical approaches is represented, key problems are systematically reviewed, and research programmes and perspectives of leading psychologists in the field are summarised.

This definitive work--now extensively revised with virtually all new chapters--has introduced generations of researchers to the psychological processes that underlie social behavior. What sets the book apart is its unique focus on the basic principles that guide theory building and research. Since work in the field increasingly transcends such boundaries as biological versus cultural or cognitive versus motivational systems, the third edition has a new organizational framework. Leading scholars identify and explain the principles that govern intrapersonal, interpersonal, intragroup, and intergroup processes, in chapters that range over multiple levels of analysis. The book's concluding section illustrates how social psychology principles come into play in specific contexts, including politics, organizational life, the legal arena, sports, and negotiation. New to This Edition *Most of the book is entirely new. *Stronger emphasis on the contextual factors that influence how and why the basic principles work as they do. *Incorporates up-to-date findings and promising research programs. *Integrates key advances in such areas as evolutionary theory and neuroscience.

What does it mean to be human? Why do we feel and behave in the ways that we do? The classic answer is that we have a special kind of intelligence. But to understand what we are as humans, we also need to know what we are like motivationally. And what is central to this story, what is special about human motivation, is that humans want to share with others their inner experiences about the world-share how they feel, what they believe, and what they want to happen in the future. They want to create a shared reality with others. People have a shared reality together when they experience having in common a feeling about something, a belief about something, or a concern about something. They feel connected to another person or group by knowing that this person or group sees the world the same way that they do-they share what is real about the world. In this work, Dr. Higgins describes how our human motivation for shared reality evolved in our species, and how it develops in our children as shared feelings, shared practices, and shared goals and roles. Shared reality is crucial to what we believe-sharing is believing. It is central to our sense of self, what we strive for and how we strive. It is basic to how we get along with others. It brings us together in fellowship and companionship, but it also tears us apart by creating in-group "bubbles" that conflict with one another. Our shared realities are the best of us, and the worst of us.

How does motivation work? The classic answer is that people are motivated to approach pleasure and avoid pain, that they are motivated by "carrots and sticks." But to understand human motivation, it is necessary to go beyond pleasure and pain. What people want is to be effective in their life pursuits, and there are three distinct ways that people want to be effective. They want to be effective in having desired results (value), which includes having pleasure but is not limited to pleasure. They want to be effective in managing what happens (control) and in establishing what's real (truth), even if the process of managing what happens or establishing what's real is painful. These three distinct ways of wanting to be effective go beyond just wanting pleasure, but there is even more to the story of how motivation works. These ways of wanting to be effective do not function in isolation. Rather, they work together. Indeed, the ways that value, truth, and control work together is the central story of motivation. By understanding how motivation works as an organization of value, truth, and control motives, we can re-think basic motivational issues, such the nature of personality and culture, how the motives of others can be managed effectively, and what is "the good life."

This definitive work--now extensively revised with virtually all new chapters--has introduced generations of researchers to the psychological processes that underlie social behavior. What sets the book apart is its unique focus on the basic principles that guide theory building and research. Since work in the field increasingly transcends such boundaries as biological versus cultural or cognitive versus motivational systems, the third edition has a new organizational framework. Leading scholars identify and explain the principles that govern intrapersonal, interpersonal, intragroup, and intergroup processes, in chapters that range over multiple levels of analysis. The book's concluding section illustrates how social psychology principles come into play in specific contexts, including politics, organizational life, the legal arena, sports, and negotiation. New to This Edition *Most of the book is entirely new. *Stronger emphasis on the contextual factors that influence how and why the basic principles work as they do. *Incorporates up-to-date findings and promising research programs. *Integrates key advances in such areas as evolutionary theory and neuroscience.

This general reader in Social Psychology is unique in its nonreductionistic approach to the discipline and is characterized by a multiplicity of perspectives.
It is ordered in terms of levels of analysis whereby social phenomena can be understood, starting with the biological level and then moving on to the cognitive, personal/motivational, interpersonal, group, and cultural level of analysis. No one level of analysis is considered more basic or adequate for explaining social phenomena than any other level, nor do these levels compete. Rather, it is believed that each makes a vital contribution and does so in a unique way.
The articles in this volume have been selected on the basis of their readability, accessibility, and brevity. They include not only highly influential papers which have had an outstanding impact on the field, but also papers that showcase important social psychological principles. Each article in the anthology is followed by a list of suggested readings that round out the picture and convey a good sense of the substantive issues, approaches and methods that characterize a given domain of study. This reader will provide an invaluable resource for undergraduates and postgraduates of Social Psychology.


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"A must-read for anyone who wants to understand why they behave as they do." --Art Markman, Ph.D., author of "Smart Thinking "
Do you play to win? Or do you play not to lose?
As Tory Higgins and Heidi Grant Halvorson have discovered in their work at Columbia University's Motivation Science Center, everything we do is motivated either by a desire to be better off or to simply hang on to what we've got. And understanding the simple but crucial difference between the two can empower you to motivate yourself and influence everyone around you. Examining how promotion/prevention focus applies across a wide range of situations--from selling products to managing employees to raising children to getting a second date--Halvorson and Higgins show us how to identify, change, and use focus to get the results we want.