The fifth edition zounds, how time flies! More than sixteen years have elapsed since we sat down to plan, and then prepare, the original version of this text. To say that these years have been turbulent is a definite understatement. Oil crises and oil gluts, wild swings in the political pendulum, economic recessions and recoveries the world around us has been anything but placid during this period. Social psychology, too has changed dramatically, as new topics, theories and approaches have risen to the fore. Despite all this change, though, here we again, back for yet another try at summarizing the knowledge base of social psychology, and transmitting its appeal and excitement to our students.