The present Introduction to Social Psychology represents an
attempt at a more synthetic type of treatment of the field than
has ordinarily been given. It seems to the writer that the time
has arrived when "schools" of social psychology may properly
be regarded as obsolete and the subject as a whole may be pre-
sented systematically. In a sense social psychology overlaps a
very large portion of social science and of psychology and edu-
cation. In this respect it is central to all psychological and
social science disciplines. This fact necessarily renders the
content of social psychology voluminous. It is no longer pos-
sible to treat this subject adequately in small compass. The
text-books which have so far appeared, although for the most
part excellent from their several viewpoints, are nevertheless
but partial treatments. So notably true is this that there exists
a marked controversy as to what properly constitutes social
psychology. In Part I of this volume an attempt has been
made to bring this controversy into relief for the purpose of
enabling the reader to see the subject as a whole.

Originally the writer intended to publish this volume in five
parts to make the synthetic treatment more pronounced. But
the length of the volume as thus planned was prohibitive and
it was decided to change the plan somewhat. The synthetic
character of the treatment has been retained, but the detailed
presentation of the process of the development of personality
and of self and social consciousness has been reserved for a
second volume. The present volume treats the subject from
the standpoint of the more objective factors which integrate
the personality and its responses in a social environment.
Throughout it has been the intention of the writer, not only
to make the treatment complete in itself, but to keep the pres-
entation on such a level that the volume can be used success-
fully as a second book in social theory, following directly
upon the introductory course in sociology in departments of

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