For over 25 years An Introduction to Social Psychology has been combining traditional academic rigor with a contemporary level of cohesion, accessibility, pedagogy and instructor support to provide a definitive guide to the engaging and ever-evolving field of social psychology.

This sixth edition, completely revised and updated to reflect current issues and underlying theory in the field, has been specially designed to meet the needs of students at all levels, with contributions written by leading psychologists, each an acknowledged expert in the topics covered in a given chapter.  The text benefits hugely from an updated range of innovative pedagogical features intended to catch the imagination, combined with a rigorous editorial approach, which results in a cohesive and uniform style accessible to all.  Each chapter addresses both major themes and key studies, showing how the relevant field of research has developed over time and linking classic and contemporary perspectives.

Miles Hewstone is Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Oxford. His current work centres on the reduction of intergroup conflict via intergroup contact, stereotype change, and crossed categorization. Professor Hewstone is a former editor of the British Journal of Social Psychology and co-founding editor of the European Review of Social Psychology. He has also been the recipient of numerous prizes including the Spearman Medal (1987) and the Presidents' Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychological Knowledge (2001), from the British Psychological Society. He has authored and edited several books, including Psychology (2005, Blackwell) and Minority Influence and Innovation (2010, Taylor and Francis).

Wolfgang Stroebe has taught social psychology at universities in the USA, UK, Germany and The Netherlands and is now Professor at Utrecht University and the University of Groningen, both in the Netherlands. He is editor with Miles Hewstone of the European Review of Social Psychology. He has authored and co-authored eight books and more than a hundred scientific articles and chapters on topics of social and health psychology. He is Fellow of a great number of international associations and has received numerous awards for his scientific work.

Klaus Jonas has taught social and organizational psychology at universities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He is Professor of Social and Business Psychology at the University of Zurich. He has published on attitudes, stereotypes and human resource management. His current interests concern the influence of leadership on performance and satisfaction of subordinates.

Notes on Contributors xix

Preface to Sixth Edition xxi

Guided Tour xxiii

Accompanying Online Resources for Instructors and Students xxvii

Chapter 1 Introducing Social Psychology 1
Wolfgang Stroebe, Miles Hewstone and Klaus Jonas

Chapter 2 Research Methods in Social Psychology 25
Antony S. R. Manstead and Andrew G. Livingstone

Chapter 3 Social Perception and Attribution 55
Brian Parkinson

Chapter 4 Social Cognition 93
Louise Pendry

Chapter 5 The Self 123
Carolyn C. Morf and Sander L. Koole

Chapter 6 Attitudes 171
Geoffrey Haddock and Gregory R. Maio

Chapter 7 Strategies of Attitude and Behaviour Change 201
Wolfgang Stroebe

Chapter 8 Social Influence 233
Miles Hewstone and Robin Martin

Chapter 9 Aggression 273
Barbara Krahé

Chapter 10 Prosocial Behaviour 309
Mark Levine and Rachel Manning

Chapter 11 Attraction and Close Relationships 347
Johan C. Karremans and Catrin Finkenauer

Chapter 12 Group Dynamics 379
Bernard A. Nijstad and Daan van Knippenberg

Chapter 13 Group Performance and Leadership 407
Stefan Schulz-Hardt and Felix C. Brodbeck

Chapter 14 Prejudice and Intergroup Relations 439
Russell Spears and Nicole Tausch

Chapter 15 Cultural Social Psychology 489
Peter B. Smith

References 527

Glossary 597

Name Index 609

Subject Index 627