Books in the Elements in Applied Social Psychology series

This Element examines the link between belief in the benefits of empathy and concerns with negative evaluation causing adverse effects on individuals' intergroup attitudes and behavior. It recommends when and how to encourage empathy in intergroup contexts, to realize its potential to foster stronger social bonds across group boundaries.

This Element reviews psychological research on the factors motivating individuals and households to adapt to climate change. It also provides a research agenda, alongside practical examples of how this knowledge can be used to promote adaptation behaviour.

Social disparities tied to social group membership(s) are prevalent and persistent in mainstream institutions. Psychological science has harnessed selves as solutions to inequality. We propose and review evidence that theoretical and applied impacts of leveraging 'selves as solutions' can be furthered through a stigma and strengths framework.

This Element reviews the social psychology of effective collective action, highlighting the importance of considering activists' goals, timeframes, and psychological perspectives in seeking to conceptualise this construct.

Video games can have many effects on players. Some areas of research have been seen as controversial, but many of the controversies can be at least partially resolved by considering the learning mechanisms underlying the effects. This Element describes the General Learning Model in greater detail than has been provided elsewhere.

In this Element, we examine the psychological impacts of climate change, especially focused on how it will lead to increases in aggressive behaviors and violent conflict, and how it will influence other aspects of human behavior.

The central question of this Element is this: What does it mean to be transgender - in general and in specific ways? What does the designation mean for any individual and for the groups in which the individual exists? Biologically, what occurs? Psychologically, what transpires? The Element starts with the basics. The authors question some traditional assumptions, lay out some bio-medical information, and define their terms. They then move to the question of central concern, seen first in terms of the individual and then in terms of the group or society. They conclude with some implications, urging some new approaches to research and suggest some applications in the classroom and beyond.

How does experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) affect one's identity, in terms of self-concept and self-esteem? In this Element, the authors propose a novel framework called the E3 Model in which relevant theory and research studies can be organized into three phases: Entrapment, Escape, and Elevation. Entrapment focuses on how people enter and commit to a relationship that later becomes abusive and how experiencing IPV affects the self. Escape explores how victims become survivors as they slowly build the resources needed to leave safely, including galvanizing self-esteem. Finally, Elevation centers on how survivors psychologically rebuild from their experience and become stronger, happier, more hopeful selves. This Element concludes with a discussion of applications of the E3 Model, such as public and legal policy regarding how to best help and support survivors.