Experiments With People: Summary Review
This is a summary review of Experiments With People containing key details about the book.
What is Experiments With People About?
"Experiments with People: Revelations from Social Psychology" is a book by Robert P. Abelson, Kurt P. Frey, and Aiden P. Gregg. It’s a good resource for anyone interested in learning about social psychology and its methods. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the field, including its history, theories, and methods, and emphasizes the importance of ethical and rigorous research practices.
Experiments With People showcases 28 intriguing studies that have significantly advanced our understanding of human thought and social behavior. These studies, mostly laboratory experiments, shed light on the irrationality of everyday thinking, the cruelty and indifference of 'ordinary' people, the operation of the unconscious mind, and the intimate bond between the self and others. This book tells the inside story of how social psychological research gets done and why it matters.
Summary Points & Takeaways from Experiments With People
Some key summary points and takeaways from the book include:
* The book provides a comprehensive overview of social psychology and its methods, including experimental and observational techniques.
* The authors highlight the importance of using experimental methods to study social behavior, as this allows researchers to test causal relationships between variables and control extraneous factors.
* The book covers a wide range of topics in social psychology, including social influence, attitudes, aggression, and interpersonal relationships.
* The authors use a variety of real-world examples and case studies to illustrate key concepts and theories, making the book accessible and engaging for readers.
* Throughout the book, the authors emphasize the importance of ethical considerations in research, including issues of informed consent and the potential for harm to participants.
* The book also highlights the limitations and challenges of social psychological research, including problems with generalizability and the potential for experimenter bias.
* The authors provide a critical examination of the field, including a discussion of the replicability crisis in social psychology and the need for greater transparency and rigor in research practices.
Who is the author of Experiments With People?
Robert Paul Abelson was a Yale University psychologist and political scientist with special interests in statistics and logic.
Kurt Frey is Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the College of New Rochelle, having received his Ph.D. in Social/Personality Psychology at Purdue University in 1993. He has had an extensive teaching career, in addition to publishing articles in premier journals.
Aiden Gregg is Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Southampton, having received his Ph.D. in Psychology from Yale University in 2000. He has published extensively in premier scholarly journals.
Book details
- Print length: 376 pages
- Genre: Psychology, Nonfiction, Science
What are the chapters in Experiments With People?
Chapter 1 Going Along to Get Along: Conforming to Group Norms
Chapter 2 Clashing Cognitions: When Actions Prompt Attitudes
Chapter 3 Baptism of Fire: When Suffering Leads to Liking
Chapter 4 Just Following Orders: A Shocking Demonstration of Obedience to Authority
Chapter 5 "Who, Me?": The Failure of Bystanders to Intervene in Emergencies
Chapter 6 Of Roaches and Men: Social Enhancement and Inhibition of Performance
Chapter 7 Us and Them: Discrimination on the Basis of Trivial Social Categorization
Chapter 8 The Sauntering Samaritan: When Context Conquers Character
Chapter 9 Taking the Magic Out of the Markers: The Hidden Cost of Rewards
Chapter 10 The Burglar's Situation: Actor-Observer Differences in Explaining Behavior
Chapter 11 We're Number One!: Basking in Others' Glory
Chapter 12 Hooded Hoodlums: The Role of Deindividuation in Antisocial Behavior
Chapter 13 Familiarity Breeds Liking: The Endearing Effects of Mere Exposure
Chapter 14 Strangers to Ourselves: The Shortcomings of Introspection
Chapter 15 What Did You Expect?: The Behavioral Confirmation of the Physical Attractiveness Stereotype
Chapter 16 The Calvinist's Conundrum: Unconsciously Engineering Good Omens
Chapter 17 Believing Is Seeing: Partisan Perceptions of Media Bias
Chapter 18 Love Thy Neighbor or Thyself?: Empathy as a Source of Altruism
Chapter 19 When Two Become One: Expanding the Self to Include the Other
Chapter 20 The Eye Is Quicker Than the Mind: Believing Precedes Disbelieving
Chapter 21 Mythical Memories: Reconstructing the Past in the Present
Chapter 22 Pitfalls of Purpose: Ironic Processes in Mood Control
Chapter 23 Digital Diagnosis: Technical Tools for Unearthing the Unconscious
Chapter 24 Frames of Mind: Taking Risks or Playing Safe?
Chapter 25 The Wrath of the Rejected: Being Shut Out Makes One Lash Out
Chapter 26 Prosocial Scuttlebutt: Sharing the Bad to Promote the Good
Chapter 27 Loving Regards: Antidote to Existential Terror
Chapter 28 Punishing Perpetrators: Motivated Belief in Free Will
* The editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, chapters, or takeaways. If you want to enhance your personal growth, I recommend checking out my list of favorite personal growth books. These books have played a significant role in my life, and each one includes a summary and takeaways to help you apply the concepts.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
