This handbook provides a broad overview of the field of social psychology and up-to-date coverage of current social psychological topics. It reflects the recent and substantial development of the field, both with regard to theory and empirical research. It starts out by covering major theoretical perspectives, including the inter actionist, identity, social exchange, social structure and the person perspectives. Next, it discusses development and socialization in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. In addition to updated discussions of topics that were included in the first edition, the part examining personal processes includes entirely new topics, such as social psychology and the body and individual agency and social motivation. Interpersonal processes are discussed from a contemporary perspective with a focus on stress and health. The final section examines the person in sociocultural context and includes another topic new to the second edition, the social psychology of race and gender and intersectionality.

John DeLamater brings a broad, biopsychosocial perspective to the study of sexuality through the life course. His recent work has focused on changes in sexual functioning associated with age. He has published papers on sexual desire and sexual behavior in persons aged 45 to 75+ and a paper on sexual satisfaction using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (ages 62-67). His recent work considers influences on frequency of sexual activity and cessation of sexual activity among persons 57 to 85. A major review and synthesis of research on sexuality in later life appears in the Annual Review of Sex Research, 2012. He co-edited Sex for Life: From virginity to Viagra, how sexuality changes throughout our lives, NYU press. DeLamater was awarded the Alfred E. Kinsey Award for Distinguished Contributions to the field of sex research by the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality. He is the co-author of a primary text in social psychology and another on sexuality.