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Experiments With People

Revelations From Social Psychology

• By Robert P. Abelson, Kurt P. Frey, Aiden Gregg, Aiden Gregg

• Price: $37.50
• Binding: Paperback (also available in Hardback)
• Pages: 376
• Published by: Psychology Press (formerly published by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates)
• Publication Date: 1st July 2003
• ISBN: 978-0-8058-2897-9

About the Book

Experiments With People showcases 28 intriguing studies that have significantly advanced our understanding of human thought and social behavior. These studies, mostly laboratory experiments, shed light on the irrationality of everyday thinking, the cruelty and indifference of 'ordinary' people, the operation of the unconscious mind, and the intimate bond between the self and others. This book tells the inside story of how social psychological research gets done and why it matters.

Each chapter focuses on the details and implications of a single study, but cites related research and real-life examples. All chapters are self-contained, allowing them to be read in any order. Each chapter is divided into:
*Background--provides the rationale for the study;
*What They Did--outlines the design and procedure used;
*What They Found--summarizes the results obtained;
*So What?--articulates the significance of those results;
*Afterthoughts--explores the broader issues raised by the study; and
*Revelation--encapsulates the 'take-home message' of each chapter.

This paperback is ideal as a main or supplementary text for courses in social psychology, introductory psychology, or research design.

Reviews

"A pleasure to read, a delight to recommend."
—Mark Lepper, Ph.D.
Stanford University

"An absorbing account of some of the best research that social psychology has to offer. Highly recommended!"
—Constantine Sedikides, Ph.D.
University of Southampton, UK

Table of Contents

Contents: Introduction. Strangers to Ourselves: The Shortcomings of Introspection. Mythical Memories: Reconstructing the Past in the Present. Taking the Edge Off Adversity: The Psychological Immune System. Believing Is Seeing: Partisan Perceptions of Media Bias. Frames of Mind: Taking Risks or Playing Safe? Clashing Cognitions: When Actions Prompt Attitudes. Baptism of Fire: When Suffering Leads to Liking. Taking the Magic Out of the Markers: The Hidden Cost of Rewards. The Calvinist's Conundrum: Unconsciously Engineering Good Omens. Pitfalls of Purpose: Ironic Processes in Mood Control. Familiarity Breeds Liking: The Positive Effects of Mere Exposure. Beneath the Mask: Tools for Detecting Hidden Prejudice. I Think, Therefore I Act: Priming Intelligence With Social Stereotypes. What Did You Expect?: The Behavioral Confirmation of the Physical Attractiveness Stereotype. Good Vibes: Insights Into Belief in Mental Telepathy. The Eye Is Quicker Than the Mind: Believing Precedes Unbelieving. Going Along to Get Along: Conformity to Group Norms. The Unhurried Samaritan: When Context Determines Character. Who Me?: The Failure of Bystanders to Intervene in Emergencies. Love Thy Neighbor or Thyself?: Empathy as a Source of Altruism. Just Following Orders: A Shocking Demonstration of Obedience to Authority. Hooded Hoodlums: The Role of Deindividuation in Antisocial Behavior. The Burglar's Situation: Actor-Observer Differences in Explaining Behavior. Of Cockroaches and Men: Social Enhancement and Inhibition of Performance. "We're Number One!": Basking in Others' Glory. Ackmians Are From Mars, Orinthians Are From Venus: Gender Stereotypes as Role Rationalizations. When Two Become One: Expanding the Self to Include the Other. The Wrath of the Rejected: Being Shut Out Makes One Lash Out. Revelations.