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Social Cognition
An Integrated Introduction

Third Edition


March 2014 | 386 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
The Third Edition of this much celebrated textbook continues to focus on the four major and influential perspectives in contemporary social psychology - social cognition, social identity, social representations, and discursive psychology. A foundational chapter presenting an account of these perspectives is then followed by topic-based chapters from the point of view of each perspective in turn, discussing commonalities and divergences across each of them.

Key Features of the Third Edition:

- Now includes coverage of the social neuroscience paradigm and research on implicit social cognition

- Updated pedagogical features and visual material

- An extended conclusion covers the ways in which the different approaches of the field intersect as well as a general discussion of the direction in which the field is moving.

Social Cognition: An Integrated Introduction is an integrative, holistic textbook that will enhance the reader's understanding of social cognition and of each of the topical issues considered. It remains a key textbook for psychology students, particularly those on courses in social psychology and social cognition.


 
Chapter 1: Introduction
Defining social psychology

 
The crisis in social psychology

 
Social cognition

 
Aims of this book

 
Organization of this book

 
Concluding comments

 
 
PART I
 
Chapter 2: Theoretical Foundations
Introduction to social cognition models

 
Introduction to social identity theory

 
Introduction to social representations theory

 
Introduction to discursive psychology

 
A post-cognitive psychology?

 
 
PART II
 
Chapter 3: Social Perception
Social cognition and social perception

 
Social identity theory and social perception

 
Social representations and social perception

 
Discursive psychology and social perception

 
 
Chapter 4: Attitudes
What is an attitude?

 
Social cognitive approaches to attitudes

 
Attitudes and social identities

 
Attitudes and social representations

 
Discursive psychology and attitudes

 
 
Chapter 5: Attributions
Social cognition and attribution

 
Social identity and attributions

 
Social representations and attributions

 
Discursive social psychology and attributions

 
 
Chapter 6: Self and Identity
Social-cognitive approaches to self and identity

 
Functions of the self

 
Social identity approaches to self and identity

 
Social representations approaches to self and identity

 
Discursive approaches to self and identity

 
 
Chapter 7: Prejudice
Social cognition and prejudice

 
Social identity and prejudice

 
Social representations and prejudice

 
Discursive psychology and prejudice

 
 
Chapter 8: Ideology
Social cognition and ideology

 
Social identity and ideology

 
Social representations and ideology

 
Discursive psychology and ideology

 
 
PART III
 
Chapter 9: Conclusion
The individual and society

 
Levels of analysis

 
Realist vs constructivist epistemologies

 
Social change

 

'It’s very good news that Martha Augoustinos and her co-authors have brought out a new, revised edition of Social Cognition. It really is an excellent, broad-ranging book, whose clear discussion of differing approaches should appeal to undergraduates of psychology. But make no mistake: this new edition, just like the previous ones, is so much more than a textbook. It contains an important, underlying argument about the social nature of thinking.'

Michael Billig
Loughborough University

'This is a remarkably sophisticated and insightful examination of social cognitive, social identity, social representations, and discursive approaches to social psychological phenomena. The core principles of each perspective are clearly explained with an engaging style that is a pleasure to read, and deep insights into how humans come to understand their social world can be found on every page. As the authors remind us, social psychological ideas have the potential to change the world. This book is beautifully written, conveys the excitement and possibilities of the discipline, and is thought provoking throughout.'

 

Nyla R. Branscombe
University of Kansas

'This scholarly, broad-ranging and generous book remains the best introduction to the field of social cognition.  It offers a truly ‘integrative’ approach, attempting to bring together work from a diverse range of traditions of social and cognitive psychology and into dialogue researchers who should talk to one another more, but so often don’t.'

John Dixon
Open University

It's a well written book and cover this field of research very well.
Students find it very useful.

Dr Jesper Dammeyer
Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen
April 5, 2015

very good detail about one important section of a social psych course , not sure of any accompanying resources as have not seen any = still will be asking students to use it as a back up book for details on 1 topic as it makes a very technical and often difficult subject for students easy to understand. nice to read

Ms Hannah Barton
Dun Laoghaire Inst of Art Design & Tec, Dun Laoghaire Inst of Art Design & Tec
March 9, 2015

Excellent coverage of the topic with inclusion of material from different perspective. Writitng style is accessible.

Dr Fiona McSweeney
Social Science , Dublin Institute of Technology
January 25, 2015

A very interesting read, written in an approachable style, perfect for students considering research projects in the field of social psychology.

Miss Magdalena Marczak
Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Coventry University
January 5, 2015

A very interesting book, excellently written making the subject area accessible.

Mrs Carrie Foster
Business and Management, Glyndwr University
October 6, 2014

Offers a firm challenge to traditional views of the 'self' which underpin many established counselling approaches, and challenges the counselling student to draw out professional practice implications.

Mrs Julie Chess
Counselling Training Team, Colchester Institute
September 24, 2014

The text book is very useful and helpful in my teaching

Dr Oluyinka Ojedokun
Psychology , Univesity of North-West
September 2, 2014

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1: Introduction


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