I can still remember Dr. Sampson saying on the first day of class, "you don't have to buy my point of view, but for the next 16 weeks, you should probably consider taking out a lease." By the end of the semester, Social Psychology was my favorite class, and now I'm teaching it myself. I would have a hard time using this as a primary textbook because of its age, but am considering it as a secondary text. The phenomenlogical perspective it endorses is important for students to hear, because too few research psychologists acknowledge its importance - or indeed, presence. Mind you, this is more a function of necessity than stubbornness or ignorance, and I myself do research of the type that Dr. Sampson might be philosophically skeptically of, but this only makes it more imperative for today's students to hear the message. I don't know where E. E. Sampson is today, but he strongly influenced my academic interests and aspirations, and I think he can still do the same for you if you read this book.
excellent assessment of the observable realities
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
Sampson enters the "nature vs nurture" dialogue, defending the position that our individual personalities are shaped by external factors more than we might have assumed.While psychology has provided insights into our behaviour, generally tending to direct us inwards, social psychology invites us to objectively measure the effects that environment and situations have on our behaviour.The findings are remarkable.His style is comfortable, such that I actually forgot I was reading a "textbook" (well, almost -- novels don't use APA citation!)A great read.
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