Abstract

In this chapter, we introduce the reader to the concepts discussed in the volume and provide a summary of the volume’s contributions. First, we offer definitions of resistance, violence, and repression to frame the scope of the volume. We discuss the book’s thematic structure and our rationale for this organization. We highlight the importance of the political, historical, and social contexts of resistance, as well as the heterogeneity and complexity of the psychological paths to participation in and strategies of resistance. We discuss the novel and unique aspects of each chapter, showing how they advance, extend, or challenge existing social psychological theories of resistance and broaden the scope of what is typically studied in the field. Finally, we discuss how we have designed the volume to make each chapter as accessible and practical as possible.