The Social Animal [Paperback]

Elliot Aronson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 25, 2003 | ISBN-10: 071675715X | ISBN-13: 978-0716757153 | Edition: Ninth Edition

Newly revised and up-to-date, this edition of The Social Animal is a brief, compelling introduction to modern social psychology. Through vivid narrative, lively presentations of important research, and intriguing examples, Elliot Aronson probes the patterns and motives of human behavior, covering such diverse topics as terrorism, conformity, obedience, politics, race relations, advertising, war, interpersonal attraction, and the power of religious cults.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Reviews of the previous edition: 'No other psychology textbook reads as well as The Social Animal.' - Elizabeth Rellinger Zettler, Illinois College, USA '...this book is to be highly commended on its ability to apply psychological theory to practical situations with which the reader can identify, and for its use of both up-to-date and classical experimental evidence...The author's credibility as an award-winning writer, along with his attention to detail and flowing prose makes this, without a doubt, a good introductory text to social psychology. Although it is very conscise, it is an informative book that covers a vast amount of material in a relatively short space without sparing the important details. Consequently, this book is very suitable for the needs of both beginners to psychology and practitioners...it comes very highly recommended to all social psychology enthusiasts.- Helen Mann, Heriot-Watt University, USA Reviews of previous editions: 'The ideas [Aronson] so eloquently presents are timeless in the field of social psychology...The Social Animal is a masterpiece.' - Contemporary Psychology 'A rare gem of a book, easy to read but also scientifically sophisticated.' - Contemporary Sociology 'The simplest, most entertaining introduction to social psychology. It is as though the reader is having a conversation with a stimulating, learned scholar with a good sense of humor.' - Community College Social Science Quarterly 'Aronson writes with an astonishing combination of passion, wisdom, and humor. The Social Animal is a great book.' - Grazyna Wieczorkowska, Director, Institute for Social Studies, Warsaw University, Poland --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

EllIOT ARONSON is a Lecturer at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is one of the world's most distinguished and versatile social psychologists.

Product Details

• Paperback: 431 pages
• Publisher: Worth Publishers; Ninth Edition edition (July 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 071675715X
• ISBN-13: 978-0716757153
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #456,701 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elliot Aronson is a social psychologist and Professor Emeritus at the University of California at Santa Cruz and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Stanford University. He has previously taught at Harvard, the University of Texas and the University of Minnesota. As a researcher, he is best known for his groundbreaking research on social influence and persuasion as well as for the invention of the jigsaw classroom (a strategy for reducing prejudice in public schools).

He has written 22 books including The Social Animal, Age of Propaganda (with Anthony Pratkanis), Nobody Left to Hate, The Adventures of Ruthie and a Little Boy Named Grandpa (with his 7-year-oldgranddaughter, Ruth Aronson, and Mistakes Were Made But Not By Me (with Carol Tavris).

Aronson is the only person in the 120-year history of the American Psychological Association to have received all three of its highest awards: For Distinguished Research, Distinguished Teaching, and Distinguished Writing. In 1981, he was named Professor of the Year by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

Among his other awards are the Gordon Allport prize for his contributions to inter-racial harmony and the William James Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Psychological Science (2007). Recently, his peers named him as one of the 100 most influential psychologists of the 20th Century.

He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and
has served as President of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology as well as President of the Western Psychological Association

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An honor. . ., March 16, 2000

By 

Mei (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Social Animal (A Series of Books in Psychology) (Paperback)

I am a current undergraduate student at the University of California at Santa Cruz. This past quarter, I had the honor of being in Elliot Aronson's last ever lecture class at Santa Cruz. It was amazing. His teaching and writing inspired me to re-evaluate my actions and myself as a person. Aronson's heart shows through in his writing--and even more in his lecturing. The book truly causes one to look at his actions and reactions to various interactions with those around him. The Social Animal focuses on why, how, and when people formulate different ideas about society and the people contained in it. One definitely gains an understanding of himself and his interactions, views, ideals, predjudices, etc. after reading this critical analysis of human social behavior. Again, I feel honored to have been enlightened by Elliot Aronson.

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE book of social psychology, October 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Social Animal (A Series of Books in Psychology) (Paperback)

I am a graduate student and forever labor at parties under the misconception others have about what it is that I study. This book was panacea for me -- I bought it and gave copies of it to my parents and various assorted others. In lay-person's prose, Aronson explains the major, and most influential, of social psychological achievements. He accurately explains what social psychology is and why it's helpful without ever sounding like a professor talking down to students. It is a must-read for everyone, not only because it is so clear and cogent, but because it can explain and clarify to many the basic processes underlying most of everyday life.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Social Animal: Bible of the Psychology of Society, November 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Social Animal (A Series of Books in Psychology) (Paperback)

This a fantastically user friendly guide to understand whether or not things we say about much of human behavior is true. For example "Is beauty really in the eye of the beholder?" "If I want people to believe me, should I speak first or last?" "What attracts people to each other?" "Will seeing violence on TV matter?" Elliot Aronson, author of 15 books, noted scientist, and member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, concisely explains a number of social issues with the light of scientific truth. Internationally recognized for sixteen years, The Social Animal, offers plain and often funny insight as to what psychologists know about human behavior in the social context. Used as both text book and sophisticated reading, few books offer enlightenment about what happens in social cirmstances, with such easily understood and scientific presentation.