This volume investigates the cognitive, social, and developmental mechanisms that underpin the formation and persistence of prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination within human societies. Todd D. Nelson, a prominent researcher in social psychology, compiles contributions from leading scholars to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding how individual biases manifest in social interactions. The text synthesizes decades of empirical research to explain the psychological roots of intergroup conflict and the systemic factors that perpetuate social inequality. By integrating diverse theoretical perspectives, the book offers a rigorous analysis of how these phenomena operate at both the individual and institutional levels.

Experts and academics frequently cite this handbook as a foundational reference for students and researchers in social psychology. Readers often note the high level of academic density and the thoroughness of the literature reviews provided in each chapter.