Social Psychology (1): Social Interaction 1

Why do humans need relationships from an evolutionary perspective?

Early humans needed social bonds for survival and reproduction; being social and caring increased survival chances.

What is the "Need to Belong" theory?

People have a fundamental, universal need for social connection, forming relationships easily and finding them hard to break.

What happens when we lack close relationships?

We suffer emotionally and physically: rejection causes:

• Pain

• Lower wellbeing

• Increased illness/mortality risk

How many close friends do people typically have?

Around six close friends; romantic relationships can reduce time spent with friends.

How does relationship quality affect wellbeing?

Strong relationships and Pleasant daily social interactions are associated with greater life satisfaction and happiness.

What are "weak ties" and why are they important?

Casual connections (like with a barista) that can boost happiness and a sense of belonging (Sandstrom & Dunn, 2014).

How do we misjudge social interactions?

We underestimate how happy others feel after talking to us and how much they like us.

What three factors promote wellbeing in social interaction?

• Quantity of interactions

• Quality of relationships

• Diversity (including weak ties).

What is "attraction" in social psychology?

Positive evaluation of another person because their presence is rewarding.

What are the main forces of attraction?

• Reciprocity

• Similarity

• Familiarity

How does Reciprocity influence attraction?

We like people more when we know they like us.

What role does similarity play in attraction?

We prefer those with similar backgrounds (building trust), but personality similarity matters less; perceived similarity is key.

What did the MIT Housing study find about familiarity and friendship?

65% had at least one friend in their own building—proximity increases friendship chances.

How does Repeated Exposure affect attraction?

We tend to like people more after repeated exposure, unless we initially disliked them.