Social Psychology and Relationships
Social relationships play an important role in how people navigate through many of the domains covered in this course, such as in education and workplace settings and managing health. Although personality characteristics and individual differences shape our relationships with others, situational factors also exert a powerful influence. Indeed, the power of the situation is perhaps the central lesson of social psychology.
For this Discussion, you will explain how situational factors interact with individual characteristics and societal forces to influence interpersonal relations. You will also describe a practical application of a social psychology principle or theory to interpersonal relations using a personal example.
To Prepare:
Review this week’s Learning Resources, and consider how interpersonal relationships are influenced by an interplay of situational factors, individual characteristics, and societal forces. Situational factors include elements that exist outside of the individual that may influence thoughts and behaviors in relationships (e.g., geographical proximity). Individual characteristics include attributes that reside within an individual (e.g., temperament). Societal forces include elements that exist in society that may influence people’s thoughts and behaviors in relationships (e.g., social norms). Also, think about how you could apply social psychology to your own relationships by drawing from a personal example.
By Day 4
Post an explanation of how the interplay among individual characteristics, situational factors, and societal forces influences the nature of interpersonal relations. Then, use a personal example to describe the practical application of a specific social psychology principle or theory to an aspect of your interpersonal relations with others.
Support your response with reference to this week’s Learning Resources and other relevant scholarly literature.
Here are the required reading for this discussion:
Learning Resources
Required Resources
Required Readings
Lodzinski, A., Motomura, M. S., & Schneider, F. W. (2017). Intervention and evaluation. In J. A. Gruman, F. W. Schneider, & L. M. Coutts (Eds.), Applied social psychology: Understanding and addressing social and practical problems (pp. 69–93). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Wood, L., Martin, K., Christian, H., Nathan, A., Lauritsen, C., Houghton, S., … McCune, S. (2015). The pet factor—companion animals as a conduit for getting to know people, friendship formation and social support. PLoS ONE, 10(4), 1–17. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0122085
Woods, S., Lambert, N., Brown, P., Fincham, F., & May, R. (2015). “I’m so excited for you!” How an enthusiastic responding intervention enhances close relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 32(1), 24–40. doi:10.1177/0265407514523545
