A History of Social Psychology: From the Eighteenth-Century Enlightenment to the Second World War

by Gustav Jahoda

The term 'social psychology' was first established in the 1860s but the issues surrounding the subject have evolved over a much longer period. This book follows the history of the discipline over two and a half centuries, demonstrating the links between early and current thought. The first attempts at empirical approaches were made in France during the Enlightenment whilst some modern ideas were also being anticipated in Scotland. The search for laws of mind and society began in nineteenth-century Europe and, by the end of the century, it changed direction. Darwinian theory made a powerful impact on the emerging discipline and the center of gravity began to move to America where it reached maturity during the inter-war period. A History of Social Psychology is viewed against a background of radical social and political changes and includes sketches of the major figures involved in its rise.

Genres: Psychology

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

He was educated in Vienna, then subsequently in Paris and London. He studied sociology and psychology at London University before obtaining a lectureship in social psychology at the University of Manchester. In 1952 he took up a post at the University College of the Gold Coast (now Ghana) in the Department of Sociology, where he carried out pioneering research into cross-cultural psychology. In 1963, he was invited to set up a new psychology department in the University of Strathclyde, although he continued to make field trips to West Africa. He retired in 1985 but he still retains the post of Emeritus Professor.

Reviews

[Öykü · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sosyal Psikoloji Tarihi'ni yüksek lisansta ders olarak almıştım ve o zaman çok keyifli geçmişti. Kitabın ilk yarısı, sosyal psikolojiyi doğuran felsefi fikirlere yoğunlaşıp, ilk sosyal psikoloji çağrışımlarına odaklanıyor. Daha fikir temelli kaldığı için bir sosyal psikolog için sıkıcı olduğunu söyleyebilirim :)

İkinci yarısından itibarense tanıdığımız ağır topların hem genel psikoloji hem de sosyal psikoloji alanında sahneye girmesi, ilk deney fikirlerinin ufak anlatımlarıyla bir çırpıda okunuyor.

Bir fikir olarak ve sonrasında deney olarak sosyal psikolojinin nasıl geliştiğini görmek açısından faydalı bir kitap.

[Gökhan Can · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sosyal psikolojinin temel gelisme aşamaları ve takip ettiği fikirleri anlatan güzel bir kitap. Yazarın derin okumaları ile oluşmuş değerli bir temel kitap. İkinci dünya savaşı sonrasına uzanmıyor.

[Mert · Rating 3 out of 5]

It occurred to me that the origins of social psychology in sociology and philosophy in the past were demonstrated very well by author. However it cannot be sufficient for readers who expect more comprehensive knowledge on contemporary experiments on the field of social psychology in my opinion.