The European Review of Social Psychology is an annual series that reflects the dynamism of social psychology in Europe and the attention now paid to European ideas and research. Although open to authors from all nations, one of its major purposes is to further the international exchange of ideas by providing an outlet for substantial accounts of theoretical and empirical work that has not been previously published in English. With the help of an editorial board consisting of senior scholars from various European countries and the USA, the editors invite outstanding researchers to contribute to these volumes. The emphasis of these contributions is on critical assessment of major areas of research and of substantial individual programmes of research as well as on topics and initiatives of contemporary interest and originality. The authors of this ninth volume are drawn from Europe and the United States, and represent the international scope and quality which are the hallmarks of this series.

Ernst Joachim Wolfgang Stroebe is a German social psychologist and Emeritus Professor of Social Psychology at the Utrecht University and the University of Groningen, particularly known for his works "Introduction to social psychology" and "Social psychology and health," and on brainstorming. Miles Ronald Cole Hewstone is a leading social psychologist who is well known for his work on social relations. He graduated from the University of Bristol in 1978 and then moved to the University of Oxford from which he obtained a D.Phil. in social psychology in 1981.