Table of Contents

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, 10th editionCHAPTER 1: Introducing Social PsychologyWhat is social psychology?Social psychology’s big ideasSocial psychology and human valuesI knew it all along: Is social psychology simply common sense?Research methods: How we do social psychologyPostscript: Why I wrote this bookPART ONE: SOCIAL THINKINGCHAPTER 2: The Self in a Social WorldSpotlights and IllusionsSelf-concept: Who am I?Self-esteemPerceived self-controlSelf-serving biasSelf-presentationPostscript: Twin truths—The perils of pride, the powers of positive thinkingCHAPTER 3: Social Beliefs and JudgmentsPerceiving our social worldsJudging our social worldExplaining our social worldExpectations of our social worldConclusionsPostscript: Reflecting on illusory thinkingCHAPTER 4: Behavior and AttitudesHow well do our attitudes predict our behavior?When does our behavior affect our attitudes?Why does our behavior affect our attitudes? Postscript: Changing ourselves through actionPART TWO: SOCIAL INFLUENCECHAPTER 5: Genes, Culture, and GenderHow are we influenced by human nature and cultural diversity?How are gender similarities and differences explained?Evolution and gender: Doing what comes naturally?Culture and gender: Doing as the culture says?What can we conclude about genes, culture, and gender?Postscript: Should we view ourselves as products or architects of our social worlds?CHAPTER 6: Conformity and ObedienceWhat is conformity?What are the classic conformity and obedience studies?What predicts conformity?Why conform?Who conforms?Do we ever want to be different?Postscript: On being an individual within communityCHAPTER 7: PersuasionWhat paths lead to persuasion?What are the elements of persuasion?Extreme persuasion: How do cults indoctrinate?How can persuasion be resisted?Postscript: Being open but not naïveCHAPTER 8: Group InfluenceWhat is a group?Social facilitation: How are we affected by the presence of others?Social loafing: Do individuals exert less effort in a group?Deindividuation: When do people lose their sense of self in groups?Group polarization: Do groups intensify our opinions?Groupthink: Do groups hinder or assist good decisions?The influence of the minority: How do individuals influence the group?Postscript: Are groups bad for us?PART THREE: SOCIAL RELATIONSCHAPTER 9: Prejudice: Disliking othersWhat is the nature and power of prejudice?What are the social sources of prejudice?What are the motivational sources of prejudice?What are the cognitive sources of prejudice?What are the consequences of prejudice?Postscript: Can we reduce prejudice?CHAPTER 10: Aggression: Hurting OthersWhat is aggression?What are some theories of aggression?What are some influences on aggression?How can aggression be reduced?Postscript: Reforming a violent cultureCHAPTER 11: Attraction and Intimacy: Liking and Loving OthersWhat leads to friendship and attraction?What is love?What enables close relationships?How do relationships end?Postscript: Making loveCHAPTER 12: HelpingWhy do we help?When will we help?Who will help?How can we increase helping?Postscript: Taking social psychology into lifeCHAPTER 13: Conflict and PeacemakingWhat creates conflict?How can peace be achieved?Postscript: The conflict between individual and communal rightsPART FOUR: APPLYING SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGYCHAPTER 14: Social Psychology in the ClinicWhat influences the accuracy of clinical judgments?What cognitive processes accompany behavior problems?What are some social-psychological approaches to treatment?How do social relationships support health and well-being?Postscript: Enhancing happinessCHAPTER 15: Social Psychology in CourtHow reliable is eyewitness testimony?What other factors influence juror judgments?What influences the individual juror?How do group influences affect juries?Postscript: Thinking smart with psychological scienceCHAPTER 16: Social Psychology and the Sustainable FutureAn environmental call to actionEnabling sustainable livingThe social psychology of materialism and wealthPostscript: How does one live responsibly in the modern world?Epilogue

About the Author

David Myers is the John Dirk Werkman Professor of Psychology at Hope College where he has taught for the past 30 years.  David Myers' love of teaching psychology has been rewarded by students on many occasions with numerous Outstanding Professor awards.  An award-winning researcher, Dr. Myers received the Gordon Allport Prize from Division 9 of the American Psychological Association for his work on group polarization.  His scientific articles have appeared in more than two dozen journals, including Science, American Scientist, Psychological Bulletin, and Psychological Science.  He has served his discipline as consulting editor to the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology and the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.