Book excerpt: Essentials of Social Psychology provides a clear, concise and engaging introduction to the field. Covering all the major topics and theoretical perspectives, this exciting new book provides straightforward explanation of key terms and concepts in a lively and student-friendly manner. Debates and controversies are brought to life and the wider practical relevance of the subject is emphasised throughout. Pedagogical features that appear across the book include Research Classic sections which describe classic studies, Research Applications boxes that highlight more contemporary developments in social psychological research and their practical applications, Real World features that look at the everyday relevance of social psychology, and Literature, Film and TV features that demonstrate how social psychological concepts are dealt with in popular media. An international balance of research alerts students to the cross cultural dimensions of social psychology Essentials of Social Psychology is accompanied by MyPsychLab, an interactive online study resource designed to help students to consolidate and further their understanding. Together, the book and online support make this an ideal resource for those studying the subject for the first time, or as part of a more general programme of study.