Social Psychology: A General Reader

This general reader in Social Psychology is unique in its nonreductionistic approach to the discipline and is characterized by a multiplicity of perspectives. It is ordered in terms of levels of analysis whereby social phenomena can be understood, starting with the biological level and then moving on to the cognitive, personal/motivational, interpersonal, group, and cultural level of analysis. No one level of analysis is considered more basic or adequate for explaining social phenomena than any other level, nor do these levels compete. Rather, it is believed that each makes a vital contribution and does so in a unique way. The articles in this volume have been selected on the basis of their readability, accessibility, and brevity. They include not only highly influential papers which have had an outstanding impact on the field, but also papers that showcase important social psychological principles. Each article in the anthology is followed by a list of suggested readings that round out the picture and convey a good sense of the substantive issues, approaches and methods that characterize a given domain of study. This reader will provide an invaluable resource for undergraduates and postgraduates of Social Psychology.