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What is the human essence? Although typically viewed as one of the big questions in philosophy, exploring the human essence requires a deep and comprehensive understanding of the human condition and thus social psychological perspectives are pivotal. Advances in social-psychological theorizing and research suggest that humans can be viewed as biological beings as well as cultural creatures, rational reasoners as well as emotional enigmas, moral minds as well as amoral agents. In this volume, talented scholars come together to present a fascinating array of insight into such topics ranging from evolutionary approaches to social constructivist accounts that essentially deny the existence of a human essence altogether. As such, this volume showcases the various shades of human essence that social psychology has discovered. Through these novel chapters, edited by Martijn van Zomeren and John F. Dovidio, The Oxford Handbook of the Human Essence expertly articulates both what social psychology can tell us about the human essence, and the astonishing range of perspectives reflected within this field. Consequently, this volume also raises important questions about the future of social psychology and the role of the notion of the human essence.
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The Oxford Handbook of the Human Essence
OX F O R D L I B R A RY O F P S YC H O LO G Y
Area Editors: Clinical Psychology David H. Barlow Cognitive Neuroscience Kevin N. Ochsner and Stephen M. Kosslyn Cognitive Psychology Daniel Reisberg Counseling Psychology Elizabeth M. Altmaier and Jo-Ida C. Hansen Developmental Psychology Philip David Zelazo Health Psychology Howard S. Friedman History of Psychology David B. Baker Methods and Measurement Todd D. Little Neuropsychology Kenneth M. Adams Organizational Psychology Steve W. J. Kozlowski Personality and Social Psychology Kay Deaux and Mark Snyder
OXFORD
LIBRARY
OF
PSYCHOLOGY
The Oxford Handbook of the Human Essence Edited by
Martijn van Zomeren John F. Dovidio
1
1 Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and certain other countries. Published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States of America. © Oxford University Press 2018 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, by license, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reproduction rights organization. Inquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above. You must not circulate this work in any other form and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Dovidio, John F., editor. | Zomeren, Martijn van, 1979– editor. Title: The Oxford handbook of the human essence / edited by John F. Dovidio, Martijn van Zomeren. Description: New York : Oxford University Press, [2018] | Series: Oxford library of psychology | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2017016873 | ISBN 9780190247577 (jacketed hardcover : alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: Existential psychology. | Social psychology. Classification: LCC BF204.5 .O94 2017 | DDC 150.19/2—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017016873 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed by Sheridan Books, Inc., United States of America
We dedicate this book to our mentors, who have inspired us pro