Explaining Social Behavior

In this new edition of his critically acclaimed book, Jon Elster examines the nature of social behavior, proposing choice as the central concept of the social sciences. Extensively revised throughout, the book offers an overview of key explanatory mechanisms, drawing on many case studies and experiments to explore the nature of explanation in the social sciences; an analysis of the mental states - beliefs, desires, and emotions - that are precursors to action; a systematic comparison of rational-choice models of behavior with alternative accounts, and a review of mechanisms of social interaction ranging from strategic behavior to collective decision making. A wholly new chapter includes an exploration of classical moralists and Proust in charting mental mechanisms operating 'behind the back' of the agent, and a new conclusion points to the pitfalls and fallacies in current ways of doing social science, proposing guidelines for more modest and more robust procedures.

In this new edition of his critically acclaimed book, Jon Elster examines the nature of social behavior, proposing choice as the central concept of the social sciences. Extensively revised throughout, the book offers an overview of key explanatory mechanisms, drawing on many case studies and experiments to explore the nature of explanation in the social sciences; an analysis of the mental states - beliefs, desires, and emotions - that are precursors to action; a systematic comparison of rational-choice models of behavior with alternative accounts, and a review of mechanisms of social interaction ranging from strategic behavior to collective decision making. A wholly new chapter includes an exploration of classical moralists and Proust in charting mental mechanisms operating 'behind the back' of the agent, and a new conclusion points to the pitfalls and fallacies in current ways of doing social science, proposing guidelines for more modest and more robust procedures.

This book is an expanded and revised edition of the author's critically acclaimed volume Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences. In twenty-six succinct chapters, Jon Elster provides an account of the

In Invisible Minds, Lasana Harris takes a social neuroscience approach to explaining the worst of human behavior. How can a person take part in racially motivated violence and then tenderly cradle a

Human behavior is a complex field of study. Social science is a widely studied academic discipline which aims to study the society in a holistic manner. This involves an in-depth study of the behavior

Norms are a pervasive yet mysterious feature of social life. In Explaining Norms, four philosophers and social scientists team up to grapple with some of the many mysteries, offering a comprehensive a

Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman's UNDERSTANDING HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT looks at lifespan through the lens of social work theory and practice, covering human development and behavior theori

Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman's UNDERSTANDING HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT looks at lifespan through the lens of social work theory and practice, covering human development and behavior theori

Explaining Conversations offers a different way of interpreting people’s social exchanges than has been available in the past. The book is replete with examples of people’s verbal interactions in the

Bestselling UNDERSTANDING HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT, 8e looks at lifespan through the lens of social work theory and practice as it covers human development and behavior theories withi

Written by four leading researchers in the study of prosocial behavior, The Social Psychology of Prosocial Behavior examines prosocial behavior from a new multilevel perspective that explores the dive

Criminologists often allude to 'peer influence' in explanations of crime and delinquency, but the meaning of that concept rarely receives careful attention. Companions in Crime organizes the extensive literature on peer influence and group delinquency into a coherent form for the first time. Chapters focus on the role of peers over the life course, the group nature of delinquent behavior, and the applicability of peer influence for explaining the major features of delinquent behavior. The most extensive chapter of the book examines possible mechanisms of peer influence and the evidence in favor of each. The principal thesis of Companions in Crime is that deviant behavior is predominantly social behavior, and criminologists must eventually determine the significance of that fact.

This volume presents, in an integrated framework, the newest, most contemporary perspectives on the role of nonverbal behavior in social interaction. The book includes empirically-grounded work and theories that are central to our understanding of the reciprocal influences between nonverbal behavior and social variables. In doing so, it contributes to the on-going controversy now shaping the field regarding the degree to which nonverbal behavior represents social, as opposed to biological, forces. The volume also highlights a number of recent subareas in the domain of nonverbal behavior that hold much promise, including the role of nonverbal behavior in group membership and media influences on nonverbal behavior. The proposed volume also presents data and theories that have applied value, useful to people working in such fields as communication, psychotherapy, and counseling. Finally, the volume gathers contributors in different sub-fields that are rarely presented jointly, such famil

This volume presents, in an integrated framework, the newest, most contemporary perspectives on the role of nonverbal behavior in social interaction. The book includes empirically-grounded work and theories that are central to our understanding of the reciprocal influences between nonverbal behavior and social variables. In doing so, it contributes to the on-going controversy now shaping the field regarding the degree to which nonverbal behavior represents social, as opposed to biological, forces. The volume also highlights a number of recent subareas in the domain of nonverbal behavior that hold much promise, including the role of nonverbal behavior in group membership and media influences on nonverbal behavior. The proposed volume also presents data and theories that have applied value, useful to people working in such fields as communication, psychotherapy, and counseling. Finally, the volume gathers contributors in different sub-fields that are rarely presented jointly, such famil

Affect and Social Behavior, first published in 1990, provides a comprehensive and integrative examination of research and theory into the role that emotion plays in influencing social behavior. The contributors investigate a number of important domains such as aggression, altruism, romantic attraction, and consumer behavior and the role that affect plays in instigating and regulating these behaviors. The chapters were written by some of the most prominent researchers in the field and they provide a review of research and theory in this important area of study.

Social problems in many domains, including health, education, social relationships, and the workplace, have their origins in human behavior. The documented links between behavior and social problems have compelled governments and organizations to prioritize and mobilize efforts to develop effective, evidence-based means to promote adaptive behavior change. In recognition of this impetus, The Handbook of Behavior Change provides comprehensive coverage of contemporary theory, research, and practice on behavior change. It summarizes current evidence-based approaches to behavior change in chapters authored by leading theorists, researchers, and practitioners from multiple disciplines, including psychology, sociology, behavioral science, economics, philosophy, and implementation science. It is the go-to resource for researchers, students, practitioners, and policy makers looking for current knowledge on behavior change and guidance on how to develop effective interventions to change behavio

Social problems in many domains, including health, education, social relationships, and the workplace, have their origins in human behavior. The documented links between behavior and social problems have compelled governments and organizations to prioritize and mobilize efforts to develop effective, evidence-based means to promote adaptive behavior change. In recognition of this impetus, The Handbook of Behavior Change provides comprehensive coverage of contemporary theory, research, and practice on behavior change. It summarizes current evidence-based approaches to behavior change in chapters authored by leading theorists, researchers, and practitioners from multiple disciplines, including psychology, sociology, behavioral science, economics, philosophy, and implementation science. It is the go-to resource for researchers, students, practitioners, and policy makers looking for current knowledge on behavior change and guidance on how to develop effective interventions to change behavio

What makes behavior deviant, and who gets to decide what deviance is? Deviant Behavior seeks to answer these questions and more. This compelling new text covers the social forces that shape deviance,

Human Behavior Theory for Social Work Practice is a text that is aligned with the new EPAS standards to focus on critical theory of human behavior by providing an in-depth presentation of each theory

This timely book focuses on influence and behavior analysis in the broader context of social network applications and social media. Twitter accounts of telecommunications companies are anal

The fifth edition of Human Behavior in the Social Environment takes students through the life course perspective to give a concise, compact treatment of human behavior. The text also comes with a rich

Go straight to the heart of what social work is all about--and learn how to promote positive change by building upon the strengths of macro systems. In HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE MACRO SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT,

Human Behavior Theory and Social Work Practice remains a foundation work for those interested in the practice and teaching of social work. Roberta Greene covers theoretical areas and individual theori

Human Behavior and the Social Environment, Micro Level draws on a resilience model to explore the dynamics of human behavior across the life span. Biological, psychological, and spiritual dimensions a

This lively, comprehensive introduction to human behavior in the social environment offers an integrative approach to biopsychosocial case formulations of current and developmental human behavior conc

Social Environments and Human Behavior focuses on the influence and interaction of groups, communities, organizations, and social movements in the lives of all individuals. The text brings together th

This addition to Anissa Rogers' bestselling Human Behavior in the Social Environment expands the original text with new chapters on spirituality, families and groups, organizations, and communities. W

Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Behavior contains papers that were originally presented at the 4th International Congress on Interdisciplinary Behavior and Social Science 2015 (ICIBSoS 2015), he

Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Interweaving the Inner and Outer Worlds is an essential human behavior textbook for social work students. The third edition emphasizes the biopsychosocial fra

Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Interweaving the Inner and Outer Worlds is an essential human behavior textbook for social work students. The third edition emphasizes the biopsychosocial fra

The Social Psychology of Consumer Behavior brings together the most promising and theoretically fruitful research developments by internationally renowned scholars, whose work is at the cutting edge o

On an everyday basis, we communicate with one another using various technological media, such as text messaging, social networking tools, and electronic mail, in work, educational, and personal settings. As a consequence of the increasing frequency of use and importance of computer-supported interaction, social scientists in particular have heeded the call to understand the social processes involved in such interactions. In this volume, the editors explore how aspects of a situation interact with characteristics of a person to help explain our technologically supported social interactions. The person-by-situation interaction perspective recognizes the powerful role of the situation and social forces on behavior, thought, and emotion, but also acknowledges the importance of person variables in explaining social interaction, including power and gender, social influence, truth and deception, ostracism, and leadership. This important study is of great relevance to modern readers, who are m

Presents major theories for systems addressed in generalist practice This text is part of the Connecting Core Competencies Series. Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Social Systems T

This lively, comprehensive introduction to human behavior in the social environment offers a multidimensional approach to the topic, with discussion of integrative practice, theory, treatment, and ser

This book is a collection of Lee McIntyre’s philosophical essays from over the last twenty years. Explaining Explanation focuses on the philosophy of social science and the philosophy of chemistry, bu

On an everyday basis, we communicate with one another using various technological media, such as text messaging, social networking tools, and electronic mail, in work, educational, and personal settings. As a consequence of the increasing frequency of use and importance of computer-supported interaction, social scientists in particular have heeded the call to understand the social processes involved in such interactions. In this volume, the editors explore how aspects of a situation interact with characteristics of a person to help explain our technologically supported social interactions. The person-by-situation interaction perspective recognizes the powerful role of the situation and social forces on behavior, thought, and emotion, but also acknowledges the importance of person variables in explaining social interaction, including power and gender, social influence, truth and deception, ostracism, and leadership. This important study is of great relevance to modern readers, who are m

Since the publication of the first edition of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, several generations of students have successfully used this classic text, which takes a social systems approach

Since the publication of the first edition of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, several generations of students have successfully used this classic text, which takes a social systems approach

High-Yield Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Brief Sessions: An Illustrated Guide breaks entirely new ground in explaining how to weave together the powerful tools of CBT with pharmacotherapy in sessions

The creation and expression of identity (or of multiple identities) in immersive computer-mediated environments (CMEs) is rapidly transforming consumer behavior. The various social networking and gami