Emotions in Social Psychology: Key Readings

There is no area of social psychology that does not involve emotions. Not only has social psychology contributed enormously to theory and research on the nature of emotions, it also has emotions at the heart of its basic subject matter, from attitudes and dissonance to altruism and aggression. This reader presents a collection of the most influential articles on the nature of emotions and their role in social psychological phenomena, along with recent work that reflects the current state of the art. Articles have been selected and edited for readability, succinctness, and interest. For the beginning student, this reader serves as an excellent introduction to the social psychology of emotions, and makes an ideal text for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses on emotions, social processes, and related topics. It may also serve as an engaging and convenient supplement to a general text on social psychology. Specialists will find this collection a handy reference as well. An original chapter by theeditor provides an introduction to the field and a history of its development. Brief introductions to each cluster of articles highlight their contributions, place them in context, and suggest further readings and discussion questions.