Social Psychology

Traditional and Critical Perspectives

This thoroughly updated second edition of Social Psychology addresses pressing topics such as climate change activism, digital technology, pandemics and AI. With three new chapters on group behaviour, culture and social cognition, this edition engages in even more detail with both classic and contemporary approaches and draws on a wider range of critical perspectives. Through accessible, section-by-section critiques, a vibrant sense of relevance, debate and new possibilities are brought to the world of social psychology.

As you read this book, you will be guided by a range of chapter activities that promote deeper learning, including:

• “In the news” boxes, which highlight the relevance of social psychology to today’s world,
• Critical review summaries, which evaluate the literature covered,
• Focus boxes, to highlight classic and contemporary research studies,
• “Try it out” boxes, which contain short activities, questions or reflection prompts,
• Definitions boxes, to remind you of key terms and their meanings,
• Review questions, to check your understanding,
• "In a nutshell" - bite-sized summaries of the ideas covered in each chapter,
• And more…

This essential resource is a must-have for students who want to go beyond a superficial awareness of names and theories to develop a deep, critical understanding of social psychology and its relevance to the real world.

Paul Dickerson is Associate Professor of Psychology at University of Roehampton, London.