This book provides the first integrated introduction to the two major research paradigms in social psychology, social cognition and social identity theory. In the 1970s, social cognition focused upon how individual cognitive processes were involved in individual information processing and rapidly became the standard for mainstream social psychology. Alternatively, social identity theory focused upon the social construction of self through the mediation of group membership and on intergroup relations and group processes. These 2 approaches have often stood in stark contrast to one another, but since the mid 1980s, there has been a noticeable shift in contrast. Increasingly, social cognition researchers are recruiting and integrating social identity concepts, and social identity researchers are incorporating and integrating social cognitive constructs, orientations and methodologies. Social Identity and Social Cognition offers an essential introduction and overview of both theories, proving invaluable to readers of social psychology. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.