The Social Psychology of HIV Infection

In the early 1980s we witnessed the birth of one of the most complex and perplexing social problems faced by modern society -- the epidemic of infection with HIV, which causes AIDS. Currently, there is no proven vaccine to prevent HIV infection, and curative therapies for those infected are still in the experimental stages. With no biomedical solutions on the near horizon, society must turn to the social and behavioral sciences for guidance in dealing with the epidemic. Two major classes of social problems have arisen from the epidemic: how to stem the tide of HIV infection, and how to care for the increasing numbers of persons with AIDS (PWAs). Because of the urgency in dealing with these social problems, many solutions that have been attempted thus far were hastily concocted and had little basis in research or accepted theory. This volume's goal is not to evaluate previous attempts to answer these social problems, but to provide theoretical analyses of some of the basic social psychological processes that underlie the problems. The authors are mainstream psychologists who have developed theoretically-driven AIDS-related research. Social psychological theories are developed and refined to meet the demands of burgeoning issues. Without the guidance of theories, lives and resources are lost in the chaos of "trying to do something" about the epidemic. Useful as a supplemental text for graduate-level courses in health, social, and applied social psychology. Also of interest to those involved in public health, epidemiology, and behavioral medicine.