Conceptual Metaphor in Social Psychology

Mark J. Landau is associate professor of psychology at the University of Kansas, where he studies the influence of metaphor on social thought and behavior. He has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Mental Health.

• 1. Jaynes’s Challenge. 2. Social Psychology Meets Conceptual Metaphor. 3. Metaphor in Meaning Making. 4. Motivation as Context. 5. The Cultural Context: Universality and Variations. 6. The Self. 7. Interpersonal Relationships. 8. Intergroup Relations. 9. Political and Health Discourse.

In this amazing volume, Mark Landau reveals to the reader the pervasive impact that metaphorical thinking has on diverse facets of social cognition and action. Carefully researched and brilliantly argued, it is a landmark work that affords novel insights into people’s morality, creativity and humor. A truly important contribution, and fun to read to boot!-Arie W. Kruglanski, Distinguished University Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland Mark Landau is one of the most interesting, creative thinkers in contemporary psychology. Start with a fascinating topic, mix in important insights, stir in a generous helping of the latest experimental research, add a pinch of humor and leaven it with Landau’s writing—and that’s a recipe for an appetizing book.-Dov Cohen, Professor of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignMetaphors guide how we think about every aspect of our lives, from our past and future to our social relationships and personal health. This book offers a masterful review of what has been learned, written by one of the leading scholars in the field.-Norbert Schwarz, Provost Professor of Psychology and Marketing, University of Southern CaliforniaConceptual Metaphor in Social Psychology is an intellectual tour de force. Drawing on insights from many disciplines, Mark Landau, an eminent psychologist, illustrates the powerful force that metaphor has on human psychology from the intrapersonal to the interpersonal to the intergroup level of analysis. Far from a being a mere linguistic device, Landau illustrates the incredible potential that conceptual metaphor has for integrating the science and practice of social psychology. This book is a must for anyone interested in understanding human behavior. -Michele J. Gelfand, Professor and Distinguished University Scholar Teacher, University of Maryland