Applications of Social Psychology - How Social Psychology Can Contribute to Solution of Real World

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.

List of contents

Chapter 1. Applications of Social Psychology: History, Issues and Prospects

Part I. Basic Issues and Methods

Chapter 2. Grounding Applied Social Psychology in Translational Research
Chapter 3. The Evolutionary Mismatch Hypothesis: Implications for Applied Social Psychology
Chapter 4. "Bad" Things Reconsidered
Chapter 5. A Process Approach to Influencing Attitudes and Changing Behavior: Revisiting Classic Findings in Persuasion and Popular Interventions

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
Chapter 7. The Development of Aggressive Behavior in Childhood and Adolescence: A Social Interactionist Perspective
Chapter 8. Grounding Desire: The Role of Consumption and Reward Simulations in Eating and Drinking Behavior

Chapter 9. In Sync with Your Shrink: Grounding Psychotherapy in Interpersonal Synchrony

Part III. Improving Interpersonal Relations and Communication

Chapter 10. Applications of Attachment Theory and Research: The Blossoming of Relationship Science
Chapter 11. Social Psychological Contributions to the Mitigation of Adolescent Depression
Chapter 12. When Justice is not Blind: The Effects of Expectancies on Social Interactions and Judgments in Legal Settings
Chapter 13. How Do Online Social Networks Influence People's Emotional Lives?

Part IV. Public Affairs and Political Behavior

Chapter 14. Understanding Populism: Collective Narcissism and the Collapse of Democracy in Hungary

Chapter 15. Collective Nostalgia and the Desire to Make One's Group Great Again
Chapter 16. Do IAT Scores Explain Racial Inequality?
Chapter 17. Cracking the Culture Code: A Tri-Level Model for Cultivating Inclusion in Organizations

About the author

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.

Summary

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, the editors convey a fundamentally optimistic message.

Report

'This book is a great combination of diverse scholars seeking to bridge the laboratory and the world of real social life. It tackles a wide range of personal and social problems, bringing psychology's methods and data to bear-sometimes with surprising results. If you care about the world today and what social psychology can do to help, this is the book for you.' Roy F. Baumeister, Professor of Psychology, University of Queensland
'Social psychology's insights into major challenges confronting individuals and society are on impressive display in this volume. Whether it be children's aggression, tobacco addiction, eating disorders or depression, contributors to this valuable effort offer new and exciting understandings of problems that affect us all. This book is highly recommended for students, researchers, and professionals working in applied field, as well as everyone else who is interested in what social psychology can contribute to improving the human condition.' Arie W. Kruglanski, Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland

Product details

• Authors: Joseph P. Crano Forgas
• Assisted by: William D Crano (Editor), William D. Crano (Editor), Klaus Fiedler (Editor), Joseph P Forgas (Editor), Joseph P. Forgas (Editor)
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.01.2020
• EAN: 9780367418335
• ISBN: 978-0-367-41833-5
• No. of pages: 360
• Series: Sydney Symposium of Social Psychology
• Subject: Non-fiction book > Psychology, esoterics, spirituality, anthroposophy > Psychology: general, reference works