World renowned psychologist Robert Sternberg presents a fresh and compelling picture of the creative process from the inception of an idea to its ultimate success. With illuminating examples, Sternberg reveals the paths we all can take to become more creative and shows how institutions can learn to foster creativity. “What is creative is new and often brings about positive change. But what is new is also strange, and what is strange can be scary, even threatening—which is why ‘they’ don’t want to hear it. But they are unwise not to listen, for the creative person with original ideas is the one who, with support, will advance and improve the milieu to the benefit of all.” —from Defying the Crowd

Creative scientists often defy the scientific establishment. Such scientists may choose to go their own way with respect to theory, research paradigm, philosophical orientation, or subject matter studied. The risks can be great, and such defiance can result in rejected articles, unfunded grant proposals, and in extreme cases, scientific oblivion. Yet these defiant scientists are often the ones whose lives live on, while the work of those scientists who conform to existing scientific tastes often dies with them.

Defying Hitler was written in 1939 and focuses on the year 1933, when, as Hitler assumed power, its author was a 25-year-old German law student, in training to join the German courts as a junior administrator. His book tries to answer two questions people have been asking since the end of World War II: “How were the Nazis possible?” and “Why did no one stop them?” Sebastian Haffner’s vivid first-person account, written in real time and only much later discovered by his son, makes the rise of the Nazis psychologically comprehensible. “An astonishing memoir... [a] masterpiece.” — Gabriel Schoenfeld, The New York Times Book Review “A short, stabbing, brilliant book... It is important, first, as evidence of what one intelligent German knew in the 1930s about the unspeakable nature of Nazism, at a time when the overwhelming majority of his countrymen claim to have know nothing at all. And, second, for its rare capacity to reawaken anger about those who made the Nazis possible.” — Max Hastings, The Sunday Telegraph “Defying Hitler communicates one of the most profound and absolute feelings of exile that any writer has gotten between covers.” — Charles Taylor, Salon “Sebastian Haffner was Germany’s political conscience, but it is only now that we can read how he experienced the Nazi terror himself — that is a memoir of frightening relevance today.” — Heinrich Jaenicke, Stern “The prophetic insights of a fairly young man... help us understand the plight, as Haffner refers to it, of the non-Nazi German.” — The Denver Post “Sebastian Haffner’s Defying Hitler is a most brilliant and imaginative book — one of the most important books we have ever published.” — Lord Weidenfeld

Shaping Psychology is a unique collection of in-depth conversations with a selection of the most influential psychologists working today, conducted at the end of a decade that shook psychological science. They provide insights into the controversies at the heart of contemporary psychology, revealing a clash of visions of what psychological science is all about and what its future holds. They are candid on the crisis in psychology and explore its causes, consequences and how to overcome it. They also discuss challenges in the field, their careers, and the experiences that shaped their worldview. Those interviewed include pioneers who have shaped psychology as we know it today and who represent a wide range of specializations, from research to mental health practice, mainstream psychology to critical psychology and neuroscience to the Open Science movement. Elizabeth F. Loftus, Stanford University, USA Jerome Kagan, Harvard University, USA Michael I. Posner, University of Oregon, USA Scott O. Lilienfeld, Emory University, USA Robert J. Sternberg, Cornell University, USA Robert Plomin, King’s College London, UK Susan J. Blackmore, University of Plymouth, UK Joseph E. LeDoux, New York University, USA Noam Chomsky, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA Roy F. Baumeister, University of Queensland, Australia Erica Burman, University of Manchester, UK Brian A. Nosek, University of Virginia, USA Vikram H. Patel, Harvard Medical School, USA Daniel Kahneman, Princeton University, USA Carol A. Tavris, independent academic, USA,

Robert J. Sternberg and Wendy M. Williams share 25 easy-to-implement strategies for developing creativity in yourself, your students, and your colleagues. The strategies include explanations entwined with personal experiences from the authors' own classrooms and research. Sternberg and Williams give a basic explanation of creativity and relate techniques you can use to choose creative environments, expose students to creative role models, and identify and surmount obstacles to creativity. Some of the techniques they explore include questioning assumptions, encouraging idea generation, teaching self-responsibility, and using profiles of creative people. Note: This product listing is for the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version of the book.

This 1988 book provides sixteen chapters by acknowledged experts on the richness and diversity of psychological approaches to the study of creativity.

Problems are a central part of human life. The Psychology of Problem Solving organizes in one volume much of what psychologists know about problem solving and the factors that contribute to its success or failure. There are chapters by leading experts in this field, including Miriam Bassok, Randall Engle, Anders Ericsson, Arthur Graesser, Keith Stanovich, Norbert Schwarz, and Barry Zimmerman, among others. The Psychology of Problem Solving is divided into four parts. Following an introduction that reviews the nature of problems and the history and methods of the field, Part II focuses on individual differences in, and the influence of, the abilities and skills that humans bring to problem situations. Part III examines motivational and emotional states and cognitive strategies that influence problem solving performance, while Part IV summarizes and integrates the various views of problem solving proposed in the preceding chapters.

Six Community Psychologists Tell Their Stories: History, Contexts, and Narrative presents the unique opportunity to examine how culture and social norms have combined with chance, coincidence, and serendipity to form the professional identities of men and women who were among the first generation trained to work in the field of community psychology. The book’s contributors—disciples of those who founded the sub-field—provide insights into the factors (social status, family history, education, social environment, cultural events, important ideas) that furthered their professional development in an emerging field. Their stories—still works in progress—go far beyond facts, figures, dates and details to document what they’ve done with their lives—and why. Six esteemed community psychologists—three men who began their careers as the field was established in the mid-1960s and three women who took part in the increased opportunities available in the 1970s—recall how important events and social movements affected them as they fulfilled their personal and professional goals. They discuss the effects of family values and styles, class, ethnic status, gender, racism, anti-Semitism, the power of social settings, supportive education and work settings, and the impact of post-World War II government programs on their education, including the G.I. Bill, and the establishment of United States Public Health Service fellowships. Their stories touch on many common themes, including social marginality and sex discrimination, making personal discoveries in response to educational experiences, the significance of fate, and the experience of gaining a new or renewed sense of self through meaningful events, occasions, and people. These Six Community Psychologists Tell Their Stories: Dr. Jean Ann Linney (University of South Carolina), whose experiences involve a combination of idealism, supportive contexts, and good fortune Dr. Julian Rappaport (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), who views himself as an “insider/outsider,” whose personal and professional identity crosses traditional boundaries Dr. N. Dickon Reppucci (University of Virginia), who became a community psychologist by accident, an outgrowth of his involvement with social protest in the 1960s Dr. Marybeth Shinn (New York University), whose story reflects her interest in the social contexts of neighborhoods and community settings Dr. Edison J. Trickett (University of Illinois at Chicago), who writes of the life experiences that have influenced both his work and his longtime involvement in folk music Dr. Rhona S. Weinstein (University of California at Berkeley), whose work in the dynamics of self-fulfilling prophecies in educational settings developed early in her career Insightful commentary on their recollections is provided by two distinguished scholars—Henrika Kuklick, Science Historian at the University of Pennsylvania, and Dan McAdams, Professor of Psychology at Northwestern University. Six Community Psychologists Tell Their Stories: History, Contexts, and Narrative is a unique resource for community psychologists, autobiographical researchers, and anyone interested in the history of psychology.

This book captures the diversity and richness of writing as it relates to different forms of abilities, skills, competencies, and expertise. It is an invaluable resource for researchers interested in language and cognition, and also educators and clinicians.

Elliot Aronson is among the 100 most influential psychologists of the 20th Century, whose work -- especially his cognitive dissonance theory -- is both provocative and enduring. This Festschrift celebrates Aronson's influence on the field of social psy.