Social Psychology of Social Problems: The Intergroup Context

Why do we protest? What compels us to participate in crowd violence? Can gender discrimination in the workplace be explained in psychological terms? From terrorist attacks to political uprisings, the social problems that have shaped the beginning of the new millenium can be explained using the theories and application of social psychology. Social Psychology of Social Problems does just that, with top international experts examining real-life issues. The book takes the view that if a problem and its origins can be understood, then perhaps it can be prevented from happening again. Social Psychology of Social Problems is required reading for students and practitioners of psychology, social policy and international relations. Provocative and challenging, it will be an essential resource for those who are seeking a deeper understanding of how social psychology can explain our complex world.

Table of Contents:
Applied Social Psychology; A.Golec de Zavala and A.Cichocka PART I: RACISM, SEXISM AND SOCIAL DISCRIMINATION Negative Stereotypes, Prejudice and Discrimination; J.C.Cohrs and T.Kessler The Social Context of Racism; C.M.Federico Antecedents and Manifestations of Sexism; J.Pietrzak Towards an Understanding of Immigration as a Defining Feature of the 21st Century; L.Hamilton, S.Medianu and V.M.Esses PART II: INEQUALITY, TYRANNY, VIOLENT AND NON-VIOLENT SOCIAL PROTEST The Corrupting Power of Social Inequality: Social-psychological Consequences, Causes and Solutions; R.Sutton, A.Cichocka and J.van der Toorn Social Conflict and Social Protest; J.van Stekelenburg and B.Klandermans Obedience and Tyranny in Psychology and History; S.Reicher and A.Haslam PART III: INTERGROUP VIOLENCE, EXTREMISM AND TERRORISM Extreme Forms of In-group Positivity and Their Negative Consequences for Intergroup Relations; A.Golec de Zavala and R.Schatz Intractable Conflicts: Why Society Members Tend to Support Their Continuation and Resist Their Peaceful Resolution; D.Bar-Tal, E.Halperin, R.Porat and R.Nets-Zehngut Evil Transformations: Social Psychological Processes Underlying Genocide and Mass Killing; M.Bilewicz and J.R.Vollhardt The Social Psychology of Terrorism: Individual, Group and Organizational Processes; K.Sharvit and A.Kruglanski PART IV: TOWARDS APPLYING SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY Applying Social Psychology to Understanding Social Problems; R.Ruiter, K.Massar, M.van Vugt and G.Kok

About the Author :
Agnieszka Golec de Zavala is Marie Curie Fellow at the Social Intervention and Research Centre at the Lisbon University Institute, Portugal. She has previously worked at Middlesex University, UK, and has published over 20 papers in academic journals. Her research interests include predictors of inter-group hostility, prejudice and inter-group conflict. Aleksandra Cichocka is a doctoral student at the Center for Research on Prejudice at the Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Poland. Her research interests include group identity, inter-group relations and political ideology. Agnieszka Golec de Zavala is Marie Curie Fellow at the Social Intervention and Research Centre at the Lisbon University Institute, Portugal. She has previously worked at Middlesex University, UK, and has published over 20 papers in academic journals. Her research interests include predictors of inter-group hostility, prejudice and inter-group conflict. Aleksandra Cichocka is a doctoral student at the Center for Research on Prejudice at the Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Poland. Her research interests include group identity, inter-group relations and political ideology.

Review :
"This is social psychology at its best - basic and applied research on stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination contributing up-to-date knowledge necessary to solve such societal problems as inequality and injustice, political participation and disengagement, intergroup conflict and violence, extremism and terrorism." - Professor Bogdan Wojciszke, Polish Academy of Science, Poland "This book explores important social issues from a social psychology point of view. It has a highly applied edge to it where theory is linked to real events and discussed, by recognised scholars, in the context of relevant classic and current empirical literature. This is definitely a useful and much-needed addition to the current literature." - Dr Magdalena Zawisza, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, University of Winchester, UK "This is a clearly written and well-structured book and as such functions well as an introductory text. It also offers a novel approach to subject through concrete case studies of different social problems. The problems are foregrounded such that students see how social psychology might be relevant to the real world." - Dr Brady Wagoner, Aalborg University, Denmark