Social Interaction

The Need to Belong

A fundamental human need to form lasting, positive, and meaningful relationships (Baumeister & Leary, 1995).

Evolutionary Perspective on Belonging

Early humans lived in small groups where social bonds increased survival chances. Humans evolved to seek acceptance and form close bonds (Hare, 2017).

Social Bonds Formation

Social bonds are easily formed and difficult to break. Example: Babies form instant attachments (Bowlby, 1969).

Consequences of Social Rejection

Rejection leads to pain, reduced well-being, and cognitive decline (DeWall & Bushman, 2011). Lack of social networks predicts illness and mortality (Coyne et al., 2001; Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010).

Social Network Size

People typically have around six close friends (Wheeler & Nezlek, 1977). Romantic relationships may reduce time spent with friends, but expanding networks can be beneficial.

Universality of Belonging

The need to belong is found across all cultures (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Hazan & Shaver, 1994).

Relationship Quality and Thriving

High-quality relationships predict better survival and life satisfaction (Sun et al., 2020). The happiest people have strong, fulfilling relationships (Diener & Seligman, 2002).

Importance of Social Interaction

Both quantity and quality of interactions impact well-being. Meaningful relationships enhance happiness.

Close vs. Weak Ties

Close ties (family, friends) provide deep emotional support, while weak ties (acquaintances, strangers) offer unexpected benefits.

The Power of Weak Ties

Positive interactions with strangers can improve well-being, e.g., talking to a barista or a bus driver increases happiness (Sandstrom & Dunn, 2014; Gunaydin et al., 2021).

Communication and Perception

Understanding how people communicate and perceive each other, shaping relationships and interactions.

The Interpersonal Gap

The gap between what a sender intends to communicate and what a receiver perceives (Gottman et al., 1979).

Non-Verbal Communication

Includes gestures, tone, facial expressions, and body language, which significantly impact how messages are received (Hall, 2019).

Facial Expressions

Convey emotions and moods. People can intensify, minimize, or mask their emotions (Yan et al., 2013).

Self-Disclosure

Sharing personal information to build closeness in relationships. Meaningful disclosure fosters stronger bonds (Aron et al., 1997).

Responsiveness in Communication

Feeling understood, valued, and cared for is essential for strong relationships (Gable & Reis, 2006).

Perception Accuracy

People are moderately accurate in understanding others, but biases can distort perception (Nater & Zell, 2015).

Attribution in Relationships

Explaining behaviours based on internal (personality) or external (situational) factors. Happy couples attribute good actions internally and bad actions externally (Weiss, 1980).

Positive Illusions

Seeing a partner in an idealized way can increase satisfaction and stability but may also overlook real issues (Murray & Holmes, 1999).

Growth vs. Destiny Beliefs

Growth beliefs view relationships as evolving with effort, while destiny beliefs see relationships as predetermined (Knee & Petty, 2013).

Mind-Reading Expectation

People expect their partners to understand them without explicit communication, but this expectation is often inaccurate (Wright & Roloff, 2015).