The social psychology of good and evil / edited by Arthur G. Miller.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Miller, Arthur G., 1940-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Aggressiveness.

Violence.

Helping behavior.

Good and evil.

Social psychology--Research.

Social psychology.

Physical Description:

xiv, 498 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Guilford Press, [2004]

Summary:

This compelling text brings together an array of distinguished scholars to explore key concepts, theories, and findings pertaining to some of the most fundamental issues in social life: the conditions under which people are kind and helpful to others or, conversely, under which they commit harmful, even murderous acts. Covered are such topics as the complex interaction of individual, societal, and situational factors underpinning good or evil behavior; the role of guilt and the self-concept; and issues of responsibility and motivation, including why good people do bad things. The volume also examines whether aggression and violence are inescapable aspects of human nature, and how cooperative interaction can break down stereotyping and discrimination.

Contents:

I. Conceptual Perspectives on Good and Evil

2. A Situationist Perspective on the Psychology of Evil: Understanding How Good People Are Transformed into Perpetrators / Philip G. Zimbardo 21

3. Basic Human Needs, Altruism, and Aggression / Ervin Staub 51

4. Four Roots of Evil / Roy F. Baumeister, Kathleen D. Vohs 85

5. The Evolution of Evil / Joshua D. Duntley, David M. Buss 102

II. Harming Others: Contexts, Causes, and Implications

6. What's in a Category?: Responsibility, Intent, and the Avoidability of Bias against Outgroups / Susan T. Fiske 127

7. Contemporary Racial Bias: When Good People Do Bad Things / John F. Dovidio, Samuel L. Gaertner, Jason A. Nier, Kerry Kawakami, Gordon Hodson 141

8. Violent Evil and the General Aggression Model / Craig A. Anderson, Nicholas L. Carnagey 168

9. What Can the Milgram Obedience Experiments Tell Us about the Holocaust?: Generalizing from the Social Psychology Laboratory / Arthur G. Miller 193

10. Conceptualizing Sexual Violence: Socially Acceptable Coercion and Other Controversies / Charlene L. Muehlenhard, Zoe D. Peterson 240

III. The Self-Concept in Relation to Good and Evil Acts

11. The Pursuit of Self-Esteem: Implications for Good and Evil / Jennifer Crocker, Shawna J. Lee, Lora E. Park 271

12. The Many Faces of Lies / Bella M. DePaulo 303

13. A Moral-Emotional Perspective on Evil Persons and Evil Deeds / June Price Tangney, Jeff Stuewig 327

IV. The Possibilities for Kindness

14. Benefits and Liabilities of Empathy-Induced Altruism / C. Daniel Batson, Nadia Ahmad, E. L. Stocks 359

15. Empathy-Related Responding: Moral, Social, and Socialization Correlates / Nancy Eisenberg, Carlos Valiente, Claire Champion 386

16. Social Support and Behavior toward Others: Some Paradoxes and Some Directions / Thomas Ashby Wills, Jody A. Resko 416

17. Sacrificing Time and Effort for the Good of Others: The Benefits and Costs of Volunteerism / Mark Snyder, Allen M. Omoto, James J. Lindsay 444

18. Reducing Hostility and Building Compassion: Lessons from the Jigsaw Classroom / Elliot Aronson 469.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

157230989X

OCLC:

53183295