Book Description
When Elliot Aronson, Timothy Wilson, and Robin Akert started with the first edition of Social Psychology their overriding goal was simple but ambitious: capture the excitement of social psychology in a textbook. Now in its sixth edition, the authors have discovered - through many kind letters and e-mail from professors and students - that they have succeeded in making their book an enjoyable, fascinating story, not just a dry report of facts and figures. In their work they have found that social psychology comes alive for students when they understand the whole context of the field: how theories inspire research, why research is performed as it is, how further research triggers yet new avenues of study. The authors have reached students by conveying their own fascination with the research process in a down-to-earth, meaningful way, yet have done so without sacrificing a firm foundation on which to build the reader's understanding. Here, in its sixth edition, the authors present a rigorous, scientific approach to social psychology in a manner that continues to build on the text's legacy of engaging and fascinating students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great service!
My book came in great condition and there were no hassles or complications. It was my first time ordering through amazon and I found the website easy to navigate and understand.

Great textbook and a useful reference.
I needed this book for a class and I usually trade them in or sell them at the end of the semester. I'm going to keep this one and add it to my personal library.

The chapters can be long, but they are all filled with good information and very useful examples. Most of my Professor's lectures were taken directly from the contents of this book. The book also references well and lesser known Psychology work to bring you important information from the field.

I probably could have gotten a good grade without going to class every week and just studying this book. As it is, I'm sure I owe a lot to the A I got in Social Psychology to this book.

social psychology
I needed this book for school, it was priced way below the cost the schools were asking for. The book arrived prior to the date indicated, which was great. I had the book a week prior to my class starting.I love this site for school books.

Eh, for Social Psych, I guess it is good
This book is way too long for the info it teaches. I took social psych as an elective so that I could have it on my transcript for grad school as suggested by my advisor. However, this book could have been about half as long and gotten the point across. It exhausts every single topic to the max and is basically a waste of time to read the entire thing.
I am a textbook reader for my classes. But, I found myself just reading the terminology and skimming quickly through the rest of this book. I think the authors would do themselves justice to accept that introductory social psychology does not need this much explaining.
I guess I would recommend this book to people who are unfamiliar with introductory psych. But, if you are familiar with psych, get ready for a luke warm ride.

Good read
This is one of the better textbooks that I have been assigned to read. Throughout my introductory 101 Social Psychology class I've read pretty much the whole book. The examples were interesting, and I enjoyed how many of the concepts introduced at the beginning of each chapter correlated with something that had happened not too long ago in the real world. The illustrations facilate a better understanding of the theory or subject matter. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to gain a better understanding of social psychology. ... Read more

Book Description
David Myers' Social Psychology continues to set the standard by which other Social Psychology texts are judged. Its renowned author’s engaging writing style and unique, intimate voice make the text compelling without being simplistic. The organization logically moves the student through the study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another, with an appropriate balance of basic research and application. This edition features additional contemporary research, supplemented by video clips and vignettes that demonstrate social psychology's relevance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great Read
I bought this book for my sociology of interaction class, an I must say that I am enjoying it.The CD-ROM and the publisher's website are very helpful for my class, and the videos are actually interesting! =) The links offered are also very helpful in finding extra information on certain subjects.No real complaints!

Great book!
For a graduate class, nobody looks forward to the boring textbook.This book, however, is very user friendly...I actually enjoyed it!

Easy to understand and well written
I'm a senior at BYU and I found this text extremely well written.It is filled with interesting examples and cartoons that explain the concepts very well.I also really liked the layout of the pages of the book (the text is in the middle and the outer edges contained the important concepts and definitions).This is one of the few textbooks I've ever read that I enjoyed reading.It's GREAT!!!

Author fail to clarify his ideas
I am taking Social Psychology at San Diego State; I, at this point, have been reading over half of the text, and I find so many blur and unclarified sections. He (author) so many time used unfit examples follow his conceptions or conceptions of other authors. it is very frustrating to comprehend the text. I highly will not recommand this book. it is such a big waste to buy this book and this book does not help much.

Great Book!
I was exactly what I was looking for with no confusion. The shipping was fast. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

social psychology
Easy reading and an enlightening read. The author does a great job utilzing examples and incorportating personal stories throughout the text.

What can I say? It is a schoolbook!
The ship time was fast and efficient. Had a lot of good info in it. ... Read more

Book Description
Three major figures from the field of social psychology lead us on an exploration to better understand our social lives. This elegantly written book returns to the classic roots of the field by placing the focus on understanding phenomena from our everyday lives. Theories and experiments are then used to explain these everyday phenomena. Along the way, the authors draw on some of the classic ideas in the field like the power of the situation and the centrality of the fundamental attribution error to explain how we view our world and interact with others. Evolution, culture, emotion, gender, and social neuroscience resonate throughout to reveal how contemporary approaches are providing us with a more comprehensive understanding of the ways in which our social worlds work. This book is certain to be the standard survey for many years to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Price
The textbook arrived at my house in four days in mint condition. I will definitely used this site again for future textbook purchases. Marty ... Read more

Book Description

Social Psychology: Goals in Interaction explores how social behavior is goal-directed and a result of interactions between the person and the situation.

In addition to an overhauled design in the 4e, Social Psychology: Goals in Interaction has two elements that continue to set it apart from other social psychology textbooks.

A unique integrated approach to social behavior: Rather than providing a laundry list of unconnected facts and theories, the authors organize each chapter around the two broad questions: (1) what are the goals that underlie the behavior in question? (2) what factors in the person and the situation connect to each goal? The book thus presents the discipline as a coherent framework for understanding human behavior.The new subtitle, “Goals in Interaction” underscores this integrated approach to understanding behavior.

Opening mysteries: Each chapter begins with a mystery of social behavior, designed not only to grab student interest, but also to organize the ensuing discussion of scientific research: Why would a poor black washerwoman give away her hard-earned life-savings? What psychological forces led the Dalai Lama, the most exalted personage in Tibet, to forge a lifelong friendship with a foreign vagabond openly scorned by Tibetan peasants? Why would a boy falsely confess to murdering his own mother?

Customer Reviews (5)

Happy w/ material covered.
After reading a few of the reviews I found it extremely interesting that every one of them gave their opinion about what the book should have been. I have a comment, "It has already been written and there's not much that can be done other than publishing a new edition. I feel that since the scope of social psychology is extremely broad, just pinning it down is a challenge. At this point, you might be woundering why I hold such perspective. As a future reasearcher, I feel that people don't realize how much work it takes to put reasearch toghter. If this people that wrote their reviews even got a little taste of what it takes to put toghter all this work, they would realize that their comments are quite insignificant.

Now, as for the content of the book, I feel that it was well written because one can easily read through it, understand it and at times identify with it. It also holds large amounts of reasearch that help build a strong fundation for and non psychology majors.

I can probably give many tips as how to study with this book but I think I would deviate from the purpose and scope of the book and this review.

SO, in conclution, I found the book extremly helpful and would recomment it to anyone that wants to learn about "the fundamentals" about social psychology.

Very detailed but lacking in one key area
Surprisingly, this book is enjoyable to read (this coming from a college student).It presents an engaging real-life story at the beginning of each chapter to cause the student to become interested in the content of the chapter that goes after the story.It weaves the stories into each chapter's content and wraps it all up at the end in thought-provoking conclusions.What drives me crazy is its index.This is a sore spot for me because many text books are lacking here.But this book is worse than some.It devotes dozens of pages (at least 35) to its crazily enormous list of references, and has 19 pages devoted to a names index.What student cares about any of this?!(Which makes one wonder who this book is really for..?)Its lonely index sulks in the corner all by itself - all 15 pages of it.I have yet to find a single word I've looked for (out of an attempt so far of perhaps 10).

The book is not searchable online so what is a student supposed to do?There is no glossary.Studying the text is therefore relegated to a linear progression from beginning of chapter to end and on to the next.Trying to correlate my class notes with the text has proven absolutely impossible.Where is any of the words in the phrase "comparison level for alternatives" found?God only knows (and the publishers, darn them.)So how then do I know what material my instructor has taken from the text and what he has given us that's NOT in the text?This is information I need to know!

the doors of cognition !
this book opens the doors of cognition ; in fact , when tiing a famous person ( ie : demora , luther king , kenwrinkel ) to notions of social psychology like ( social role , influence , aggression , etc ) , it allows our memory to widen , and teach a method to learn more and more easily !
thatis , build couples : idea and picture !
this book uses cognition methods and invite us to study that field !
... opening the doors of cognition ...teaches too , that very simple tools may have terrific and positive effects !

Social Psychology: Unraveling the Mystery
The most valuable benefits of adopting this book for my class was the unbelievable support from the publisher. A&B provided a study guide, a test bank, a huge package of transparencies, a powerpoint presentation CD...--all of this for free. I have been astonished by the sevice and free benfits I have gotten as the result of choosing this otherwise excellent book.

Let's hope the competition emulates this author and publisher.

Mr. Cialdini's comments
After reading Mr. Cialdini's comments about his book, I wondered:is he trying to employ his "scarcity principle" to influence book sales? ;) ... Read more

Book Description

The most up-to-date account of social psychology, this text introduces key concepts through balanced coverage of classic studies, contemporary research, and current social issues. The authors bring vivid examples to reflect social psychology concepts in real life. The use of current events, social issues, and evocative photographs makes the text more compelling to students by helping them relate concepts to their own lives and to see the world through the eyes of a social psychologist.

• Increased coverage of cross-cultural research and sociocultural perspectives includes studies of sexual orientation, ostracism, Milgram in the 21st century, and social relations over the Internet. These viewpoints are examined through topics such as the social self, personal and group perception of attitudes, conformity and obedience, interpersonal behavior, and group influences.
• Icons in the text reference video footage available on the new Houghton Mifflin Social Psych in Film DVD/VHS (for instructors) and video stills on the student CD-ROM.
• Coverage of the use of social neuroscience techniques includes brain imaging techniques to explore social psychology questions.

Customer Reviews (3)

Attempts at Classification
I'm not sold on social psychology.Part of my issue with this discipline is my personal fight to never let people pigeon-hole me and this seems to want to it on a grand scale.Some of the text does not help one see how issues of individual psychological development tie in to the study of social psychology.This is a great failing because many people no very little about this topic.

take a different class
After a semester using the text i have come to the conclusion that the authors, Brehm, Kassin, and Fein, leave more questions then answers and that their sub-par sense of humor is more then just a waste of money.After reading certain sections i get the feeling that the authors do not clearly understand the issue at hand, but rather throw 15 different research studies at the topic covering their uncertainty and topping it off with a dire attempt at a joke leaving the reader completely ambiguous.

What's not to like?
Easy to read yet scholarly. Great illustrations. Space in the margins for notes. Good chapter overviews and summaries. Nice T/F questions to prime the reader. Sources used appropriately. It is truly the ideal textbook.

The format, layout, and writing style make this the text that other writers should follow. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

For anyone who wants to make the world a better place.
David Meyers Social Psychology was one of finest Psychology books that I read in my undergraduate studies.In his book, Dr. Myers, makes no claim to ultimate knowledge in this still vastly unexplored field.

After thousands of years since becoming a literate species, Dr. Myers examines the nature of human tendencies.In his book, Dr. Myer challenges the reader to explore such issues as "Bystander Effect" and why humans help in some situations and why in other cases they simply stand by even while witnessing the rape and murder of another human being; Or as in the case of the holocaust, how diffusion of responsibility allowed one of the worst mass executions in human history to occur.

Dr. Myers book also address such important areas as how our attitudes determine our behavior, the dangers and historical significance of conformity and how cults indoctrinate.He discusses in detail the dynamics of Groupthink and Group Polarization and explores important counter measures such as how persuasion can be resisted.

This is an important book for people who care about making society better.The issues posed in this book are not just for students of psychology, but also for anyone who wants to make the world a better place.A must read for all social science, criminal science, and law majors.This book is also relevant to and an excellent resource for police officers, federal agents, social workers, advertisers, and politicians.

OK, but not very scientific.
It basically amounts too a huge list of research findings in social psychology. A super-broad overview.
Interesting? Yes.
But do I ever get to read the research itself? No. Its pleasant, but its dumbed down. ... Read more

Book Description
This brief, modular introduction to social psychology offers streamlined focus on issues such as belief and illusion, prejudice and diversity, and love and hate. The brevity of each of the book's 31 stand-alone modules makes this the perfect text for covering the core concepts in the field. The new edition includes expanded coverage of cultural diversity and the most current research from the 21st century. ... Read more

Book Description

Click 'Supplements' on menu at left for information about the Instructor's Resources CD-ROM available to qualified adopters of this text! 

Praise for Applied Social Psychology:

"...My view concerning the major accomplishment of this volume: It takes the distinction between 'basic' and 'applied' social psychology and shows that it is more illusory than real, that 'basic' social psychological theory can be applied to a host of significant social and practical problems with the potential to bring about real and important changes. As such, I think that Applied Social Psychology will make a substantial contribution as an undergraduate text - useful both as an introductory text in courses on applied social psychology and, where time will permit, as a secondary text to complement the main text in introductory or junior graduate-level survey courses on social psychology."                                     
                                                       - CANADIAN PSYCHOLOGY/ PSYCHOLOGIE CANADIENNE, 2005, 46:4, 251-261

"In my opinion, this book will be THE text in that field to use. I say this as a current teacher of such a course and one who is constantly looking for a good book to use. . . .I think this book is great. It is comprehensive and very well written."

-John Berman, Skidmore College

Customer Reviews (2)

social psychology
Definitely easy reading and the author makes it enjoyable throughout. I would suggest this text for any social psychology course whether it is required or supplemental reading.

Easy to read text.
Very reader friendly, simplifies subject matter with lots of great examples.Quite comprehensive coverage of topics. Some bias is evident as both positives and negatives on issues is not always presented with balanced. A great text for the subject area. ... Read more

Book Description
Steven Breckler, James Olson, and Elizabeth Wiggins want to bring social psychology alive for students. They know that the only way to do this is for students to experience social psychology themselves. From the inception of the Social Psychology Alive project, the book, workbook, online labs, and video were developed in tandem, so each component would work seamlessly with the other components to help students recognize social psychological phenomena in the world around them. The book presents a mix of classic and contemporary research in an accessible writing style that emphasizes the relevance of the findings to students' own lives. In the workbook, students are given activities that apply the principles; in "Social Psychology Labs Online," students actually participate in social psychology experiments and thereby experience the research process of social psychologists; in the video, students see examples of social psychology in everyday life and listen to conversations with famous social psychologists. Each element of the package makes the course more active and the concepts more alive for students, so they come to appreciate how social psychology advances our understanding of social behavior. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Best Clothing Book I've Ever Read
Susan Kaiser is a pioneer in the field.Her work sets the standard by which others should follow.This book is very readable.I recommend it to anyone who is fascinated by the impact of clothing on our culture/society.

If you are interested, definitely helpful!
For someone like me, a 15year old with both a strong interest in clothing and pyschology, this book was awesome. The Social Pschology of Clothing is a book about how we are dressed makes us seem to others. It explained howcertain situations are handled due to the clothing involved. I highlyrecommend this book for anyone with a love for clothes and psychology. Ms.Kaiser, I may some day soon be doing a lenghthy research paper on thissubject, and you have become a valuable resource. ... Read more

Book Description
You are a member of a social world on a planet containing about 7 billion people. This social world is filled with paradox, mystery, suspense, and outright absurdity. Explore how social psychology can help you make sense of your own social world with this engaging and accessible book. Roy F. Baumeister and Brad J. Bushman’s SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND HUMAN NATURE can help you make sense of the always fascinating and sometimes bizarre and baffling diversity of human behavior-and it’s also just plain interesting to learn about how and why people act the way they do. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Social Psychology, 3rd Edition provides the only conceptually integrated undergraduate introduction to social psychology, offering a clear synthesis of the cognitive and social, and individual and group influences that shape social behavior.

This textbook offers comprehensive coverage of classic, contemporary, and emerging topics in social psychology. The focus is on underlying, unifying principles that operate across topics, rather than treatment of each topic in isolation, a focus that reflects the increasingly cross-disciplinary developments within and beyond psychology. An emphasis on research carried out in different parts of the world and a sensitivity to cross-cultural perspectives highlights the internationalization of the field in recent years. In addition, the text offers real-world applications of scientific principles to areas such as marketing, law, education, and health. Throughout, the discussion conceptually integrates the pervasive impact of social groups on all aspects of social behavior.

Extensive feedback from reviews of prior editions has helped make this third edition comprehensive, contemporary, and relevant to social psychology students and instructors needs. Effective and helpful pedagogical features include chapter summaries, margin glossaries, tables, graphs, and photographs.

An attractive student-friendly format, and a narrative by two leading scholars that is both lively and rigorous, make this text one of the most respected and acclaimed on the market.

This new edition is supported by an extensive online Social Psychology Student Learning Program (SocSLP) and CD-ROM based Instructor Resources, both of which are free of charge to qualifying adopters.

Product Description
This listing is for the alternative version of: Social Psychology, 11 edition. ... Read more

Book Description
Exploring Social Psychology provides a brief and economical introduction to social psychology, which presents concepts and findings in smaller bites - 30 modules that are crisp, concise, and ideally suited to students' attention spans. Written in the engaging Myers style the text attempts to reveal social psychology as an investigative reporter might, by providing a current summary of important social phenomena by showing how social psychology uncovers and explains such phenomena and by reflecting on their human significance.By focusing on humanly significant issues such as belief and illusion, independence and interdependence, love and hate, Myers presents social psychology in ways that inform and stimulate all students, not just future social psychologists.In addition, Module topics focus on the scope social psychology and on highlighting the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another. ... Read more