Social Psychological Foundations of Clinical Psychology

"There is a rich interplay between social and clinical psychology, and this volume mines it to great depths. The volume is sufficiently comprehensive to stand alone as a timely, high-quality survey of either social or clinical psychology. But it does even more, providing a convincing synthesis of these two vibrant fields. Maddux and Tangney have assembled the leading lights of the social-clinical interface, and the result is a lively and scholarly book."---Thomas Joiner, PhD, Distinguished Research Professor and Bright-Burton Professor of Psychology, Florida State University

"Clinical and social psychology have long gone their separate ways. This book, derived from a research literature about which I knew too little, opened up new perspectives for me as a clinician. Psychotherapy is an interpersonal and social enterprise that can be informed by an understanding of social context. This is an original book, with finely written chapters, that can enrich practice."---Joel Paris, MD, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Canada

"What a remarkable book! Maddux and Tangney have worked an act of magic to bring together leading social and clinical psychologists in the same volume. The result is a cutting-edge presentation of theory, research, and practice that demonstrates the mutual benefit of integrating the most innovative work from both disciplines. Scientific advances in understanding self-regulation, attachment, emotion, judgment processes, and behavior change flow seamlessly between the laboratory and clinic. I consider this book a necessity for any clinical graduate student who aspires to the mantle of a scientist-practitioner. At the same time, social psychologists and their students will find much to treasure in these chapters."---Jefferson A. Singer, PhD, Department of Psychology, Connecticut College

"Maddux and Tangney have assembled a blue-ribbon team in this welcome resource for the clinical practitioner. Social psychological theory provides valuable insights into both problem development and mechanisms of sustainable change. This book has strong applicability for many applied disciplines beyond clinical psychology, including social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, and pastoral care."---Paula S. Nurius, MSW, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Washington

How do psychological problems develop? How can clinicians understand and evaluate them? How can effective therapeutic interventions be designed? Uniquely integrative and authoritative, this volume addresses vital clinical questions from a social psychological perspective. Leading experts from both social and clinical psychology explore what cutting-edge research at the interface of the two fields can tell us about mental health, psychopathology, and psychotherapy. The book will both deepen therapists' interactions with their clients and make for rich and engaging classroom discussion.

Rather than focusing on particular psychiatric diagnoses, such as depression, anxiety, or personality disorders, the volume is organized around key social psychological theories and concepts. Following an introductory overview, Part II presents cogent examinations of self and identity, self-regulation, interpersonal processes, and social cognition and emotion. Chapters highlight the role of these basic psychological processes in both healthy and maladaptive functioning. Part III brings a social psychological lens to clinical assessment and diagnosis. Compelling topics include how clinicians make judgments about client problems, how to reduce the impact of judgment errors and cultural bias, and ways to improve assessment by drawing on advances in personality science. Taking a closer look at clinical interventions and how they work, Part IV delves into the social psychology of help seeking, therapeutic change, and the therapist-client relationship.

This important work is essential reading for a broad range of mental health professionals, including clinical and counseling psychologists, clinical social workers, and psychiatrists, as well as clinical researchers and social and personality psychologists. Graduate students in these areas will find it a highly informative and accessible text.

James E. Maddux, PhD, is University Professor of Psychology at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and former director of its clinical doctoral program. Dr. Maddux is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association's Divisions of General, Clinical, and Health Psychology. His major interest is the integration of theory and research from clinical, social, and health psychology. His research is concerned primarily with understanding the influence of beliefs about personal effectiveness and control on psychological adjustment and health-related behavior.
June Price Tangney, PhD, is University Professor of Psychology at George Mason University. A Fellow of the American Psychological Association's Division of Personality and Social Psychology and of the American Psychological Society, Dr. Tangney is Associate Editor of American Psychologist. Her research on the development and implications of moral emotions has been funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Science Foundation, and the John Templeton Foundation. Dr. Tangney's current work focuses on moral emotions among incarcerated offenders. A recipient of George Mason University's Teaching Excellence Award, she strives to integrate service, teaching, and clinically relevant research in both the classroom and her lab