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Social neuroscience is an expanding field which, by investigating the neural mechanisms that inform our behavior, explains our ability to recognize, understand, and interact with others. Concepts such as trust, revenge, empathy, prejudice, and love are now being explored and unraveled by the methods of neuroscience. Many researchers believe that evolutionary expansion of the primate and human brain was driven by the need to deal with social complexity, not only to understand and outwit our peers, but to take advantage of the benefits of cooperative living. But what kind of brain-based mechanisms did we end up with? Special routines for dealing with social problems, or more general solutions that can be used for non-social cognition too? How are we able to sacrifice our own self-interests to respond to the needs of others? How do cultural differences in the organization of society shape individual minds (and brains), and does the brain provide constraints on the possible range of cultural permutations? The Student's Guide to Social Neuroscience explores and explains these big issues, using accessible examples from contemporary research.
The first book of its kind, this engaging and cutting-edge text is an ideal introduction to the methods and concepts of social neuroscience for undergraduate and postgraduate students in fields such as psychology and neuroscience. Each chapter is richly illustrated in attractive full-color, with figures, boxes and 'real-world' implications of research. Several pedagogical features help students engage with the material, including essay questions; summary and key points; further reading; and a website with glossary, practice multiple-choice questions and active reference links. Supplementary teaching resources are also available online - these and the student resources are available free of charge to qualifying adopters.
List of contents
1. Introduction to Social Neuroscience 2. The Methods of Social Neuroscience 3. Evolutionary Origins of Social Intelligence and Culture 4. Emotion and Motivation 5. Reading Faces and Bodies 6. Understanding Others 7. Interacting with Others 8. Relationships 9. Groups and Identity 10. Morality and Anti-Social Behaviour 11. Developmental Social Neuroscience
