Applications Of Social Psychology

This book explores what social psychology can contribute to our understanding of real-life problems and how it can inform rational interventions in any area of social life. By reviewing some of the most recent achievements in applying social psychology to pressing contemporary problems, Forgas, Crano, and Fiedler convey a fundamentally optimistic message about social psychology’s achievements and prospects. The book is organized into four sections. Part I focuses on the basic issues and methods of applying social psychology to real-life problems, discussing evolutionary influences on human sociability, the role of psychological ‘mindsets’ in interpreting reality, and the use of attitude change techniques to promote adaptive behaviors. Part II explores the applications of social psychology to improve individual health and well-being, including managing aggression, eating disorders, and improving therapeutic interactions. Part III turns to the application of social psychology to improve interpersonal relations and communication, including attachment processes in social relationships, the role of parent-child interaction in preventing adolescent suicide, and analyzing social relations in legal settings and online social networks. Finally, Part IV addresses the question of how social psychology may improve our understanding of public affairs and political behavior. The book will be of interest to students and academics in social psychology, and professionals working in applied settings.

`I think this is a wonderful book. The social psychological theories are exceptionally well presented for practical use. Anyone studying social psychology will find this book extremely relevant and accessible' - Gerjo Kok, Professor of Applied Psychology, Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University `This is a highly readable book dealing with an exciting topic, applied social psychology, which is at the heart of many urgent problems of the new millennium. It is well suited for curing the disease of those who still believe there is an opposition between fundamental and applied research, between theories and practice. The major asset of this volume lies in the originality and strength of the PATH concept -- from problem definition, over analysis, and test, to helping. I like the idea to implement and institutionalize this framework in teaching and in education' - Klaus Fiedler, University of Heidelberg Introducing a new methodological approach for doing applied psychology, the PATH model, this book offers a simple, systematic, step-by-step, easy-to-use methodology for applying primarily social psychological theory to a wide range of social problems, from tackling crime and prejudice to fostering environmental conservation and team performance. It helps and guides students to define a problem, conduct a theory-based analysis, develop an explanatory model, set up and execute a research project to test the model, and develop an intervention. Applying Social Psychology is a highly practical text, which can be used by introductory and advanced level students who want to learn how to analyze practical problems and develop solutions for these problems based upon social psychological theory and research. Written in an engaging and accessible way, this book offers: 1. A new methodological model put forward by the authors (PATH model); 2. Real world case studies; 3. End of chapter exercises; 4. Interviews with leading social psychologists; 5.Glossary of key theories and concepts in social psychology; 6. Recommended further reading.

Social psychology attempts to understand, explain, predict and, when needed, change people's thoughts, feelings and behaviours. For a relatively young discipline it has already made great strides toward this awe-inspiring goal. Pioneers such as Lewin, Asch, Kelley and Festinger began groundwork in the 1940s and 1950s, but it was only in the late 1960s that social psychology came of age. Since then it has blossomed, both in investigating the basics of the discipline and in applying the insights from fundamental social psychology to different fields related to the area. This volume is devoted to the development of understanding in the field of social psychology over the last four decades, focusing on both basic and applied social psychology. Contributions are gathered under five main areas: attitudes and attitude change; social cognition and emotions; interpersonal and group processes; health behavior; and bereavement and coping. These five domains not only illustrate the scope of social psychology, but also pay tribute to one of the key figures in modern social psychology, Wolfgang Stroebe. Remarkably, he has made significant contributions across all five of these areas, and his research achievements exemplify the progress, prospects and problems faced by modern social psychology over the last 40 years. This volume includes contributions from some of the most distinguished names in the field, and all authors provide an overview or critical look at their specific area of expertise, tracing historical developments where appropriate. The Scope of Social Psychology provides a broad-ranging, illustrative review of the field of modern social psychology.

This clearly written text provides broad coverage of the applications of social psychology to the problems of society and individuals. It focuses on interventions by several psychologists in real-world problem solving and the use of social psychological knowledge by other professionals. In addition, it provides clear explanations of the theory underlying each application, chapter summaries, and a useful glossary defining major social psychological theories and techniques.

This book offers a rather innovative approach to the social psychological underpinnings of professional mental health services in two respects. First, while psychology has been applied to the subject of mental health in the past, little effort has been directed to link the typical topics of social psychology to the subject of counseling practice. Thus, this volume examines such traditional social psychological topics as conformity, aggression, interpersonal attraction and prejudice with specific attention to the ways in which extant research and theory in such areas can inform professional practice. Second, most of the authors in this volume are engaged in professional practice while recently completing academic training in scholarly investigations required for a Ph.D. While most of the authors are thus in early stages of their careers, they offer especially contemporary interpretations of both research and practice related to such issues as risky behavior among adolescents, violent tendencies of incarcerated offenders, impacts of social media use on depression, social influences on eating disorders and body dissatisfaction, school violence, and consequences of stereotype threat. Chapters deal with implications for policy as well as psychotherapy, and perspectives from positive psychology are used in considering the enhancement of mental health and interpersonal relations as well as the prevention of mental health problems. Finally, the critical social theory that serves to ground a commitment to social justice in the programs of most of the authors is reflected here in chapters that challenge assumptions of mainstream social psychology particularly around issues of race and culture.

3. Greater sensitivity to European work: We have can cut common experience so close to the bone. long felt very close to European social psychol In the present volume we wish to share what we ogy, and the European responsiveness to the first believe to be some of the most significant and edition suggested that we were communicating stimulating insights to emerge from social psy with this audience. Further, there has been a chology, from its birth to the present. Our writ steadily increasing awareness among American ing has been guided in particular by the follow and Canadian social psychologists of significant mg concerns: work in Europe. We thus made a special effort in the second edition to reflect this work. No, we Theoretical coherence The emphasis on the did not succeed in capturing all the work of im oretical ideas begins in the first chapter; we portance. Space limitations and organizational compare the behaviorist, cognitive, and rule requirements also meant that work of many wor role orientations. We believe that these para thy colleagues in the United States and Canada digms form the generating context for subse was not included. However, we do feel that the quent chapters. We show how these perspectives present volume is superior to all others in its have influenced the questions that have been integration across continents. asked and the explanations that have been of fered for various kinds of social behavior.

An introduction to how social psychological theories, methods and interventions can be applied to manage real-world social problems.