Social Psychology

About Elliot AronsonSamuel SommersTimothy Wilson

About our authors Elliot Aronson is Professor Emeritus at the University of California at Santa Cruz and 1 of the most renowned social psychologists in the world. In 2002 he was chosen as one of the 100 most eminent psychologists of the twentieth century. Dr. Aronson is the only person in the 120-year history of the American Psychological Association to have received all 3 of its major awards: for distinguished writing distinguished teaching and distinguished research. Many other professional societies have honored his research and teaching as well. These include the American Association for the Advancement of Science which gave him its highest honor the Distinguished Scientific Research award; the American Council for the Advancement and Support of Education which named him Professor of the Year of 1989; the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues which awarded him the Gordon Allport prize for his contributions to the reduction of prejudice among racial and ethnic groups; and the William James Award from the Association for Psychological Science. In 1992 he was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. A collection of papers and tributes by his former students and colleagues The Scientist and the Humanist celebrates his contributions to social psychological theory and its application to real-world problems. Dr. Aronson's own recent books for general audiences include Mistakes Were Made (but not by ME) with Carol Tavris and a memoir Not by Chance Alone: My Life as a Social Psychologist. Tim Wilson did his undergraduate work at Williams College and Hampshire College and received his PhD from the University of Michigan. Currently Sherrell J. Aston Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia he has published numerous articles in the areas of introspection attitude change self-knowledge and affective forecasting as well as a recent book Redirect: The Surprising New Science of Psychological Change. His research has received the support of the National Science Foundation and the National Institute for Mental Health. He has been elected twice to the Executive Board of the Society for Experimental Social Psychology and is a Fellow in the American Psychological Society and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. In 2009 he was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2015 he received the William James Fellows Award from the Association for Psychological Science. Wilson has taught the Introduction to Social Psychology course at the University of Virginia for more than 30 years. In 2001 he was awarded the University of Virginia All-University Outstanding Teaching Award and in 2010 was awarded the University of Virginia Distinguished Scientist Award. Sam Sommers earned his BA from Williams College and his PhD from the University of Michigan. Since 2003 he has been a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Tufts University in Medford Massachusetts. His research examines issues related to stereotyping prejudice and group diversity with a particular interest in how these processes play out in the legal domain. He has won multiple teaching awards at Tufts including the Lerman-Neubauer Prize for Outstanding Teaching and Advising and the Gerald R. Gill Professor of the Year Award. He was also inducted into the Tufts Hall of Diversity for his efforts to promote an inclusive climate on campus for all students. He has testified as an expert witness on issues related to racial bias jury decision making and eyewitness memory in criminal trial proceedings in 7 states. He has written 2 general audience books related to social psychology: Situations Matter: Understanding How Context Transforms Your World (2011) and This Is Your Brain on Sports: The Science of Underdogs the Value of Rivalry and What We Can Learn from the T-shirt Cannon (2016). He is also co-author of Invitation to Psychology (7th Edition) along with Carole Wade Carol Tavris and Lisa Shin.