Psychology of Emotion: Interpersonal, Experiential, and Cognitive Approaches (Principles of Social Psychology) - Softcover

'Questions about emotion strike to the heart of what psychology is all about, and are as old as psychological science itself. A century-worth of disagreements continue over how an emotion is to be defined, and how it functions in the economy of the mind and behavior, making it a challenge to write a book covering the study of emotion in all of its forms. This book, however, really delivers. Niedenthal and her colleagues have produced an easy-to-read, well-written text that maps much of the scientific terrain of emotion research in a comprehensive and accessible manner. They provide an admirable degree of integration with a multitude of theoretical perspectives, and offer a balanced summary of even the most hotly debated questions, making this book an essential guide for anyone who wants to be educated in the science of emotion.' - Lisa Feldman Barrett, Professor of Psychology, Boston College

'This book is a very welcome addition to the already existing textbooks on emotions, because it provides an in-depth overview of the cognitive and social approaches to the study of emotions. The authors have done an excellent job in integrating empirical research and theories on emotions and I am confident that this book will become a standard textbook. Because it raises new questions, and provides original insights, the book will be a challenge for both students and teachers.' - Agneta Fischer, The University of Amsterdam

'With a style sufficiently lively for advanced undergraduates yet coverage that is thorough enough for a sophisticated seminar for graduate students, Psychology of Emotion is an outstanding text for a field of growing interest in psychology, neuroscience, and beyond. Drs. Niedenthal, Krauth-Gruber, and Ric synthesize research on the most important topics motivating investigators of emotion today, from the structure of emotional experiences to facial expression to gender and culture. Each chapter provides a compelling integration of classic research with cutting-edge studies and includes a special emphasis on the ways in which emotions can be studied systematically in the laboratory and in field settings. A fun "extra" is Dr. Niedenthal's own cartoons and drawings appearing throughout the volume. This is a fine book and one I would certainly like to use in my 'Psychology of Emotion' course at Yale.' - Peter Salovey, Dean of Yale College and Chris Argyris Professor of Psychology, Yale University

"I enjoyed reading this book... No stone is left unturned to make this a pleasurable experience for the student." – Luciano L’Abate, PsycCRITIQUES

This textbook discusses fundamental issues in the definition and measurement of emotion, including: conscious and unconscious processes; the ways in which emotions arise in, and are constrained by, social situations and social processes; the regulation and sharing of emotion and their effects of mental health; and the manner in which culture (including subculture) shapes or moderates some of these processes.

The book also focuses on the component processes of emotion, their functions, and the ways in which these interact with the social environment. Rather than deny either that emotions are biologically determined or that they are culturally created or shaped, both biology and social situation are treated as important forces in the elicitation and the experience of emotion.

Each section of the book is structured around specific approaches or models, and the precise questions that they were constructed to address. The theories and models are also placed in their in historical context. Discussion of the different approaches is elaborated by summaries of the extant scientific evidence, as well as examples of specific experiments or studies that were designed to evaluate the question. Timely, engaging real-world examples are used from a variety of international contexts.

The pedagogic features, including concise introductions and summaries, discussion questions, and suggested readings, have been incorporated into the volume, making this an ideal text for a course of Emotion, which can be found as an option within many social psychology and cognitive psychology courses.