Description: Explaining Social Behavior More Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences A substantially revised edition of Jon Elster's critically acclaimed book exploring the nature of social behavior and the social sciences. Jon Elster (Author) 9781107071186, Cambridge University Press Hardback, published 30 July 2015 516 pages 23.5 x 16 x 3 cm, 0.86 kg 'This is a delightfully engaging book by one of the best thinkers of our age. Elster offers illuminating insights into a wide variety of fundamental psychological and social phenomena. Always charming as well as lucid, in this superb new edition Elster gives intriguing answers to fascinating questions.' Kent Berridge, University of Michigan In this new edition of his critically acclaimed book, Jon Elster examines the nature of social behavior, proposing choice as the central concept of the social sciences. Extensively revised throughout, the book offers an overview of key explanatory mechanisms, drawing on many case studies and experiments to explore the nature of explanation in the social sciences; an analysis of the mental states - beliefs, desires, and emotions - that are precursors to action; a systematic comparison of rational-choice models of behavior with alternative accounts, and a review of mechanisms of social interaction ranging from strategic behavior to collective decision making. A wholly new chapter includes an exploration of classical moralists and Proust in charting mental mechanisms operating 'behind the back' of the agent, and a new conclusion points to the pitfalls and fallacies in current ways of doing social science, proposing guidelines for more modest and more robust procedures. Preface Part I. Explanation and Mechanisms: 1. Explanation 2. Mechanisms 3. Interpretation Part II. The Mind: 4. Motivations 5. Self-interest and altruism 6. Myopia and foresight 7. Beliefs 8. Emotions 9. Transmutations Part III. Action: 10. Constraints: opportunities and abilities 11. Reinforcement and selection 12. Persons and situations 13. Rational choice 14. Rationality and behavior 15. Responding to irrationality 16. Implications for textual interpretation Part IV. Interaction: 17. Unintended consequences 18. Strategic interaction 19. Games and behavior 20. Trust 21. Social norms 22. Collective belief formation 23. Collective action 24. Collective decision making 25. Institutions and constitutions Conclusion: is social science possible? Index. Subject Areas: Philosophy of science [PDA], Political science & theory [JPA], Social theory [JHBA]
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BIC Subject Area 1: Philosophy of science [PDA]
BIC Subject Area 2: Political science & theory [JPA]
BIC Subject Area 3: Social theory [JHBA]
Number of Pages: 516 Pages
Language: English
Publication Name: Explaining Social Behavior: more Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication Year: 2015
Subject: Sociology
Item Height: 235 mm
Item Weight: 860 g
Type: Textbook
Author: Jon Elster
Item Width: 160 mm
Format: Hardcover
