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.

Autorentext

Joseph P. Forgas is Scientia Professor at the University of New South Wales. In recognition of his work, he received the Order of Australia, the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award, and has been elected Fellow of the Australian and Hungarian Academies of Science.

William D. Crano is Oskamp Professor of Psychology at Claremont Graduate University. He was liaison scientist for the US Office of Naval Research, NATO Senior Scientist, and Fulbright Senior Scholar.

Klaus Fiedler is Professor of Psychology at the University of Heidelberg, Fellow of the German Academies of Science and the American Psychological Society and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.

Inhalt

Chapter 1. Applications of Social Psychology: History, Issues and Prospects. Joseph P. Forgas, University of New South Wales, William Crano, Claremont Graduate University and Klaus Fiedler, University of Heidelberg

Part I. Basic Issues and Methods

Chapter 2. Grounding Applied Social Psychology in Translational Research Klaus Fiedler, University of Heidelberg.

Chapter 3. The Evolutionary Mismatch Hypothesis: Implications for Applied Social Psychology. Mark van Vugt, Lianne P. De Vries and Norman P. Li, Free university of Amsterdam.

Chapter 4. "Bad" Things Reconsidered. Gregory M. Walton, Stanford University and Shannon T. Brady, Wake Forest University

Chapter 5. A process approach to influencing attitudes and changing behavior: Revisiting classic findings in persuasion and popular interventions. Richard E. Petty, Ohio state university and Pablo BRinol, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid

Part II. Promoting Individual Health and Well-Being

Chapter 6. Call of Duty - The Tobacco Wars: Opposing Effects of Tobacco Glorifying and Prevention Messages in Entertainment Video Games Hart Blanton, Christopher N. Burrows and Timothy Regan, Texas A&M University.

Chapter 7. The Development of Aggressive Behavior in Childhood and Adolescence: A Social Interactionist Perspective. Barbara Krahe, University of Potsdam.

Chapter 8. Grounding Desire: The Role of Consumption and Reward Simulations in Eating and Drinking Behaviour. Esther Papies, University of Glasgow.

Chapter 9. In Sync with Your Shrink: Grounding Psychotherapy in Interpersonal Synchrony. Sander L. Koole, Free university of Amsterdam, Dana Atzil-Slomin, Bar-Ilan University, Emily Butler, University of Arizona, Suzanne Dikker, New York University, Wolfgang Tschacher, University of Bern, and Tom Wilderjans, Leiden University

Part III. Improving Interpersonal Relations and Communication

Chapter 10. Applications of Attachment Theory and Research: The Blossoming of Relationship Science Mario Mikulincer, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, and Philip R. shaver, University of California, Davis.

Chapter 11. Social Psychological Contributions to the Mitigation of Adolescent Depression. William D. Crano and Andrea L. Ruybal, Claremont Graduate University

Chapter 12. When justice is Not Blind: The Effects of Expectancies on Social Interactions and Judgments in Legal Settings. Margaret Bull Kovera,John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Graduate Center, City University of New York

Chapter 13. How Do Online Social Networks Influence People's Emotional Lives? Ethan Kross & Susannah Chandhok, University of Michigan.

Part IV. Public Affairs and Political Behavior

Chapter 14. Understanding Populism: Collective Narcissism and the Collapse of Democracy in Hungary. Joseph Paul Forgas, University of New South Wales and Dorottya Lantos, Goldsmiths, University of London.

Chapter 15. Collective Nostalgia and the Desire to Make One's Group Great Again. Michael J. A. Wohl and Anna Stefaniak, Carleton University.

Chapter 16. Do IAT Scores Explain Racial Inequality? Lee Jussim, Akeela Careem, Nathan Honeycutt, Rutgers University, and Sean T. Stevens, New York University, Stern School of Business.

Chapter 17. Cracking the Culture Code: A Tri-Level Model for Cultivating Inclusion in Organizations. Toni Schmader, University of British Columbia, Hilary B. Bergsieker, University of Waterloo and William M. Hall, Brock University.