Social Neuroscience

The past decade has witnessed great progress in identifying the physiological and neural mechanisms underlying social behavior. This volume brings together many of the leaders of the nascent field of social neuroscience to describe their groundbreaking work in this area. The editors have done a superb job of assembling a broad and representative slate of state-of-the-art chapters. This volume will be valuable for the increasing number of advanced undergraduate and graduate courses focusing on the neurobiology of social behavior, as well as for social and personality psychologists seeking an excellent introduction to the area. Highly recommended.--Todd F. Heatherton, PhD, Champion International Professor, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College

For students unfamiliar with the field, Social Neuroscience provides an accessible overview of the major topics of study and makes a strong case for the need for more research on the physiological and neurological bases of social behavior. In the classroom, this book would be beneficial to advanced undergraduates or graduate students interested in either social psychology or cognitive/behavioral neuroscience.--Sarah Wood, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Stout

James Watson once said, 'there are only molecules; everything else is sociology.' His tongue-in-cheek arrogance reminds us of the great gulf that once separated the 'two cultures' of humanities and science. In the last decade this gap is successfully being bridged by social neuroscience. This fine edited volume presents a readable, comprehensive overview of this exciting new field.--V. S. Ramachandran, MD, PhD, Center for Brain and Cognition, University of California, San Diego


Human beings are intensely social animals, yet intensive study of the biological basis of human social behavior began only quite recently. Brain imaging was the spur to this acceleration of social neuroscience research, but brain imaging alone can never reveal the neural mechanisms underlying human social interactions. Recognizing this shortcoming, Harmon-Jones and Winkielman include a whole range of additional and complementary methodologies in this book, from lesions to hormone analysis. This is an excellent introduction to cutting-edge research in what is undoubtedly going to be the dominant theme in 21st-century neuroscience.--Chris Frith, FRS, Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK


More than a half-century ago, social psychology opened a New Look in perception. Social phenomena occurring below awareness became prime subjects of controversial discourse. Social Neuroscience now demonstrates that, in many cases, what we thought were no more than conjectures have become promising lines of discovery. It organizes in a clear, instructive manner most of what we now know about neural processes underlying significant aspects of social behavior.--Robert Zajonc, PhD, Department of Psychology, Stanford University

Not long ago, social motivation was a matter of others sharing some of their food, warmth, and some sex. Now, with the affect revolution, social motivation has become a cauldron of basic emotional systems and cognitive abilities and desires. This volume summarizes a host of exciting developments in this rapidly emerging field. It brings us up to date with exciting research programs that are illuminating the multidimensional social-affective nature of our existence. We finally have a secure intellectual base from which to launch the next generation of inquiries that will allow us to blend human and animal research into an enlightened and unified understanding of how social brains and social mind make us the kinds of creatures that we are.--Jaak Panksepp, PhD, Department of Veterinary and Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology, and Physiology, Washington State University


- Harmon-Jones and Winkielman include essential psychological topics such as motivation, person perception, emotion, attitudes, prejudice and stereotyping, and interpersonal relationships....An accessible, readable, and comprehensive overview of an exciting, emerging new field. --Keeping In Touch, 11/17/2007ƒƒ Conveys neuroscientific analyses of social behavior through clear and focused prose, at an appropriate level of complexity for its readership....This volume easily accomplishes one of its primary aims: to introduce a wide audience to the basic concepts and methods of social neuroscience....A thoughtful collection of wide-ranging and fascinating articles. --PsycCRITIQUES, 11/17/2007ƒƒ Through a showcase of the latest research programs, and leading investigations, this volume presents its audience with an accessible, readable, and comprehensive overview of an exciting, emerging new field. --EABP Newsletter, 9/26/2010