Introduction to Social Psychology

This is a sophisticated, comprehensive text written in a compelling narrative. The author's number one goal is to bring continuity to the field. By providing a useful historical context, Lippa shows how social psychology research develops over time. He presents a perfect balance of classic and contemporary research, using clear explanations, interesting examples, and practical applications. The applied areas are woven into the content of each chapter, rather than appearing in separate chapters at the end of the book. Each chapter begins with an excerpt from a book, novel, show or play that captures the reader's attention and draws him or her immediately into the chapter topic. The chapter concludes with a section that addresses an applied topic. For example, the chapter on Prejudice concludes by examining ways of reducing prejudices, Attraction ends with a look at the life cycle of close relationships, and Altruism examines ways to make people more helpful in everyday life. This book should be of interest to all students on social psychology courses.