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The Content, Structure, and Operation of Thought Systems

Advances in Social Cognition, Volume IV

• Edited by Jr., Robert S. Wyer, Thomas K. Srull

• Price: $89.95
• Binding: Hardback (also available in Paperback)
• Pages: 296
• Published by: Psychology Press
• Publication Date: 1st September 1991
• ISBN: 978-0-8058-0741-7

About the Book

If anyone deserves the title "father of social cognition," it is William J. McGuire who, along with his wife and colleague Claire V. McGuire, has written the target article for this volume. The culmination of many years of work, the article discusses their highly developed theory of human thought systems, and establishes many new directions for theoretical and empirical inquiry. Equally important, however, are the chapters -- written from many different theoretical and empirical perspectives -- that challenge various assumptions underlying the McGuires' work. In addition to examining implications not explicitly considered in the target article, these contributions explore the new directions that future research and theorizing might take.

Table of Contents

Contents: Preface. W.J. McGuire, C.V. McGuire, The Content, Structure, and Operation of Thought Systems. I. Ajzen, Attitudes and Thought Systems. D.E. Carlston, Free Association and the Representation of Complex Cognitive Structures. D.E. Dulany, Conscious Representation and Thought Systems. A.H. Eagly, The Three Ironies of the McGuires' Theory of Thought Systems. K. Fiedler, Beyond Local Cognitive Processes: Imprinting a Systems Approach to Social Cognition. R. Hastie, Comment on McGuire and McGuire's "Thought Systems." R.E. Petty, D.T. Wegener, Thought Systems, Argument Quality, and Persuasion. K.A. Rasinski, By Their Fruits Shall You Know Them? The Measurement of Public Opinion and the Content, Structure, and Operation of Thought Systems. S.J. Sherman, Thought Systems for the Past as Well as for the Future. P.E. Tetlock, Some Thoughts About Thought Systems. R.S. Wyer, Jr., The Construction and Use of Thought Systems: Some Theoretical Ambiguities. W.J. McGuire, Homage to Our Critics: A Dialectical Collaboration.