The Social Self: Group Influences on Personal Identity

Who we are derives both from our individual experiences and factors like ethnicity, religion, class, and gender. Three distinguished authors synthesize the literature on intergroup relations with concepts from applied behavioural science to re-emphasize the role of group identity and intergroup relations in the production of the self. Central concepts of the self and society are defined; knowledge from psychology and sociology is reviewed along with theories of prejudice and inter-group relations. This highly unusual book, designed as a tool for self-awareness, is also a complete review of the topic. 'It is scholarly, very well written, organized, and interesting. -- Centerboard, Journal of Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies, Vol 1 No 2, Fall 1983 'This book would be particularly appropriate as a text in a course unit on human relations -- but it probably deserves a place in the library of any college where psychology or sociology is taught...it does provide a good selection of recent as well as traditional empirical and theoretical work relevant to the topics listed above. Moreover, it manages to do so and still be easily read -- the sort of work that many people might enjoy reading even while on holiday. -- Personality and Individual Differences 'The aid to classroom teaching provided by the exercises in this book opens up many possibilities. The book is useful in a course in social psychology...If a more ambitious community oriented course aiming to control the virulent intergroup prejudices in our society is planned, this book can perhaps form the most indispensible source material. -- Psychological Studies, Vol 28 No 2, July 1983 'This very readable book is recommended for undergraduate libraries. -- Choice, November 1983