`The time is ripe for this unique integration of the formerly disparate major approaches to social psychological issues. I highly recommend this readable and exciting review of social cognition topics. The core principles of the social cognition, social identity, social representations, and discursive approaches are clearly outlined in such a way that students will truly engage with the theories' - Nyla R Branscombe, Professor of Psychology, University of Kansas

With a new structure, the Second Edition of this critically acclaimed textbook represents a much more `integrated' and pedagogically developed account of its predecessor. The authors examine the different theoretical and methodological accomplishments of the field by focusing on the four major and influential perspectives which have currency in social psychology today - social cognition, social identity, social representations and discursive psychology. A foundational chapter presenting an account of these perspectives is then followed by topic-based chapters from the point of view of each perspective in turn, discussing commonalities and divergences across each of them.

Key features of Second Edition:

- cross-referencing throughout the text - especially to the foundational chapter

- key terms in bold which refer to a glossary at the back of the textbook

- extensive pedagogical features: textboxes illustrating key studies, effective summaries and further readings in every chapter.