Identities, Groups and Social Issues
- Margaret Wetherell - The Open University
This accessible and authoritative textbook presents an engaging overview of social psychological research on groups, the development of social identity, intergroup relations and the process of making sense of social life.
Unlike other textbooks in this area, this book has a broad focus. It covers a representative mix of European and North American research, but also draws on psychoanalysis, social theory, discourse analysis and feminist writing to develop accounts of topics such as racism, social influence, group dynamics, the workplace and masculine identities. Classic studies are set alongside the most recent research in social psychology. The result is a book which is rich in ideas, interdisciplinary in nature, combative and critical.
This book has been developed as a Course Text for The Open University course Social Psychology: Personal Lives, Social Worlds (D317).
`This textbook introduces students to social psychology.... visually, the presentation is admirable: space, colours, summaries, and "activities" are imaginatively and very helpfully used.
Three traditions in social psychology are presented: experimental, psychodynamic, and social constructionist. The book is divided into six chapters, written by different authors. Each of the first three chapters introduces one of the traditions. Each of the last three explores implications of these traditions to one social issue.... Altogether, then; how could this book be evaluated? Well, perhaps it should not be. After all, already in the preface is it explained that the purpose is "to explore different ways of framing or constructing the subject matter at hand until you have found your way of making sense of it"' - Groupwork
`When considering a volume that has essentially the form of a textbook, particular criteria apply. It is important that it is accurate, up-to-date and covers an appropriate range of material in an accessible and stimulating manner. It is important that it is a flexible vehicle for use with diverse courses, and does not overly impose a particular or narrow intellectual structure. In all these respects, this text is to be recommended... Finally, it is important that all students of social psychology should try to see the historical and cultural linkages that extend across and through its subject area, and this is the other message that comes across from this exceptionally well thought-through book' - Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology
`This social psychology textbook [includes] a stimulating and complex picture of the state of theory and practice in politically progressive psychological discourse analysis' - Discourse & Society
`This is a splendid book in which psychology goes public.... [it] provides an exciting discussion of how human mental processes adapt to the complexities of social interaction in organized social groups. While psychological in emphasis, this volume never loses sight of the historical and political settings in which people live' - Jerome Bruner, New York University
`Students should find this book a fascinating opening into social psychology. Very different views on the nature of social identity and group life confront each other. The result is a stimulating and provocative volume' - Michael Billig, Loughborough University
Very interesting and at the appropriate level for Foundation Degree learners. Social issues identified and addressed, this book links in well to the course content.
I have read this book and while I consider it to be helpful I was uncertain of its place within our current programme and reluctently have decided against adoption
Good text for situating the individual within a wider context when examining systemic and social injustices.
