Applied Social Psychology
Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems

Third Edition

Edited by:

Jamie A. Gruman - University of Guelph, Canada
Frank W. Schneider - University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Larry M. Coutts - L. M. Coutts & Associates, Ottawa, Canada

September 2016 | 616 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

This student-friendly introduction to the field focuses on understanding social and practical problems and developing intervention strategies to address them. Offering a balance of theory, research, and application, the updated Third Edition includes the latest research, as well as new, detailed examples of qualitative research throughout. The book begins with separate chapters that define the field, examine social psychological theory, review research methods, and consider the design and evaluation of interventions. Subsequent content chapters focus on the application of social psychological theory and knowledge to such areas as counseling, sports, media, health, education, organizations, criminal justice, community, environment, and diversity.

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Preface

PART I- FOUNDATIONS OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Frank W. Schneider, Jamie A. Gruman, and Larry M. Coutts

1. Defining the Field of Applied Social Psychology

Social Psychology

Defining Social Psychology

Social Psychology as a Science

Applied Social Psychology

Applied Social Psychology as a Science

The Role of Personal Values

Historical Context of Applied Social Psychology

A Problem Focus

Approaches to Applied Social Psychology

Social Influences on Behavior: The Power of the Situation

Levels of Analysis

The Need for a Broad Approach

Various Roles of Applied Social Psychologists

Overview of Book

Summary

Michelle A. Krieger, Greg A. Chung-Yan, and Shelagh M. J. Towson

2. Social Psychological Theory

The Scientific Process

Theory in Social Psychology

Functions of Social Psychological Theories

Characteristics of Social Psychological Theories

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Description

Organization

Direction

Intervention

Summing Up Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Theory of Planned Behavior

Description

Organization

Direction

Intervention

Summing Up the Theory of Planned Behavior

Summary

Kenneth M. Cramer and Louise R. Alexitch

3. Research Methods in Applied Social Psychology

Methods of Data Collection

Variables and Their Measurement

Self-Report Methods: The Special Case of Surveys

Observational Methods

Research Designs

True Experiments

Quasi-Experiments

Correlational Studies

Descriptive Studies

Research Settings

Qualitative Research Methods

Research Ethics

Postscript

Summary

Adam Lodzinski, Michiko S. Motomura, and Frank W. Schneider

4. Intervention and Evaluation

Design of Interventions

Nature of Interventions

Key Tasks in Intervention Design and Delivery

Evaluation of Interventions

Reasons for Evaluating Interventions

Ineffective Interventions

Types of Evaluation

Importance of Research Design in Evaluating Interventions

Evidence-Based Interventions

An Intervention Example: Reducing Alcohol Problems on Campus

Identifying the Problem

Developing a Solution: Forming the Intervention Hypothesis

Goal Setting and Designing the Intervention

Implementing the Intervention

Evaluating the Intervention

Incorporating Qualitative Methods to Design and Evaluate Interventions

Further Applications of Social Norm Theory

Other Interventions

Examples of Other Interventions

Complex Problems Require Complex Solutions

Influencing Social Policy

Intervention Issues

Process Issues

Ethical Issues

Summary

PART II APPLYING SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY TO ARENAS OF LIFE

Kenneth E. Hart and Phillip A. Ianni

5. Applying Social Psychology to Clinical and Counseling Psychology

The Origins of Psychological Disorders

The Social Psychological Roots of Social Anxiety

A Social Psychological Model of Depression

The Treatment and Prevention of Psychological Disorders

Self-Presentation Theory: An Approach to Treating Social Anxiety

Hopelessness Theory Approach to Treating Depression

The Diagnosis of Psychological Disorders

Biases in Clinical Decision Making

Final Thoughts

Summary

Philip Sullivan, Deborah L. Feltz, and Lori Dithurbide

6. Applying Social Psychology to Sports Teams

Team Dynamics

Team Cohesion

Team Confidence

Effective Communication

Team Goal Setting

Team Building

Family Psychology Intervention

Communication Training Intervention

Summary

David R. Ewoldsen and Beverly Roskos

7. Applying Social Psychology to the Media

How Does Media Violence Affect Us?

The Consequences of Viewing Media Violence

Imitation of Violence

Media Violence and Aggressive Thoughts

Media Violence and Fear

What Happens When We Watch Pornography?

Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Nonviolent Pornography

Effects of Exposure to Embedded Violent Sexual Material

Reducing the Harmful Effects of Exposure to Violent Sexual Material

Does Political News Coverage Affect Us?

How the Media Influence Our Thoughts

Effects of Negative Media Coverage of the Government

Summary

Kathryn D. Lafreniere and Kenneth M. Cramer

8. Applying Social Psychology to Health

Health Psychology Defined

The Biopsychosocial Model

Social Variables and Health

Promoting Health and Preventing Illness

Persuasion and Social Influence in Media Health Coverage

Health Literacy: Evaluating Health-Related Information on the Internet

Family, Peer, and School Influences

Changing Health Behavior

Health Belief Model

Theory of Planned Behavior

Transtheoretical Model

Stress, Coping, and Social Support

Stress and Coping

Social Support

Summary

Louise R. Alexitch

9. Applying Social Psychology to Education

Intrapersonal Processes: Increasing Success, Reducing Failure

What Factors Affect Student Performance?

How Can Student Performance Be Improved?

Interpersonal Processes: Teachers and Students Interacting

Teacher Expectations and Student Achievement

Students Interacting With Other Students

When Interactions Turn Ugly: Aggression in School

Summary

Larry M. Coutts and Jamie A. Gruman

10. Applying Social Psychology to Organizations

The Individual in an Organizational Context

Making Sense of Others in the Work Environment

Job Satisfaction: Antecedents and Consequences

Interpersonal Processes in Organizations

Communication

Group Decision Making

Summary

David M. Day and Stéphanie B. Marion

11. Applying Social Psychology to the Criminal Justice System

The Crime and the Criminal

The Social Psychology of a Crime

The Origins of Criminal Behavior

The Response of the Criminal Justice System

The Police Investigation

The Courtroom

The Prison Setting

Summary

Kathryn D. Lafreniere, Stewart Page, and Charlene Y. Senn

12. Applying Social Psychology to the Community

What Is Community Psychology?

Defining Community Psychology

Origins of Community Psychology

Community Psychology Values and Approaches

Sense of Community

Life in the City

The Internet as a Community and Source of Help

Diversity Versus Prejudice and Stigmatization

The Importance of Diversity

Research on Stigmatization

The Media and Stigmatization

Bringing About Social Change

Social Action and Activism

Using Research to Influence Social Change

Activism in Research

Influencing Policy

Changing Structural or Social Barriers

Summary

Robert Gifford

13. Applying Social Psychology to the Environment

Resource Dilemmas

A Family of Dilemmas

What Is a Resource Dilemma?

Studying Resource Dilemmas

Strategies for Inducing Pro-Environment Behavior

The Built Environment

Social Design

Defensible Space

Epilogue

Summary

Catherine T. Kwantes and Sherry Bergeron

14. Applying Social Psychology to Diversity

Societies: Cultural Diversity

Hofstede’s Cultural Taxonomy

Schwartz’s Values Framework

Social Axioms Approach

Demographics: Personal Diversity

Gender

Ethnic Background

Social Class

Consequences of Diversity: Opportunities and Challenges

Creativity and Innovation

Problem Solving

Prejudice and Discrimination

Conflict

Theories of Conflict

Conflict Management and Resolution

Summary

PART III APPLYING SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY TO ONE’S OWN LIFE

Ann L. Weber and Jennifer Dobson

15. Applying Social Psychology to Personal Relationships

The Need to Be Close

Attraction

Proximity and Familiarity

Physical Attractiveness

Attachment

Infant Attachment

Adult Attachment Styles

Assess Your Attachment Style

Applying Attachment Lessons

The Selection Process

The T-Shirt Study

Selection Process Lessons and Applications

Conclusion: The Science of Closeness

Summary

Randolph A. Smith

16. Applying Social Psychology to the Classroom

Cognitive Errors and Student–Teacher Relations

Fundamental Attribution Error

Belief Perseverance

Social Categorization

Self-Perceptions and Their Academic Consequences

Self-Handicapping

Self-Serving Bias

Overjustification Effect

Conclusion: Social Psychology in the Classroom

Summary

Jamie A. Gruman, Kenneth E. Hart, and Phillip A. Ianni

17. Applying Social Psychology to the Good Life: Balancing Optimism and Pessimism

Introduction to Positive Social Psychology

Optimism

Introduction to Optimism–Pessimism

Self-Assessment of Optimism–Pessimism

The Social Psychology of Optimism

The Benefits of Optimism

Positive Coaching Exercises

Pessimism

A Balanced View of Optimism and Pessimism

Broadening the Perspective on Well-Being

Summary

References

Author Index

Subject Index

About the Editors

Contributors

Key features

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

Updated content in all chapters resulting in over 270 new citations keeps readers up to date with what is new in the field.
New, detailed examples of research using qualitative methods in every content chapter help students better understand key concepts.
Stronger contextualization of applied social psychology helps students understand the overall scope of the field.
New topics include the concept of shared mental models in teams; health literacy and how people evaluate health claims on the Internet; procrastination, bullying, and cyberbullying; and virtual sense of community.
Topics updated with the latest research include video games and aggression; how the Internet influences the way we consume news media; how to effectively craft messages to promote environmentally friendly behavior; and cognitive errors and tendencies.
The latest thinking in contemporary applied social psychology is reflected in an entirely new section drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior to explain the nature of social psychological theory.
Cutting-edge developments in popular areas such as positive psychology include expanded discussions of optimism and pessimism and positive social psychology.
A new balance framework helps students conceptualize how social phenomena promote “the good life.”

KEY FEATURES:

Coverage of a broader range of topics helps students develop a more thorough appreciation of the scope of the field and the varied social problems it addresses.
Unique chapters focus on personal interventions, such as how readers can apply social psychology to their own lives.
Focus on Research and Focus on Intervention sections review research studies and social-psychologically based interventions in greater detail.
Culture Capsule features illustrate how social psychological knowledge from one cultural context may not necessarily generalize to other cultural contexts.
In-text learning aids include chapter-opening outlines and vignettes, highlighted key terms, and chapter-ending summaries.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 13

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Applied Social Psychology
Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems

Sample Materials & Chapters

Sage College Publishing

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