Realism, Identity and Emotion Vol. 1 : Reclaiming Social Psychology

Offering an exciting challenge to social psychology, this volume advances and defends a realist account that moves beyond traditional empiricist accounts and repudiates the relativism of more recent social constructionist critiques. This wide-ranging volume illustrates the virtues of a realist interpretation of psychological theories by showing it to be entirely compatible with theories of the social dimensions of mind. The author develops an original theory of the intrinsically social dimensions of identity and emotion, documenting many areas neglected both by empiricist and constructionist accounts. Broadly interdisciplinary and presenting a bold new vision of the possibilities and potential of social psychology, this volume is essential reading for students and researchers in social psychology and the philosophy of psychology.