Social Psychology of Attraction and Relationships from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Module 1: Learn With PsycLearn Essentials

This module introduces you to your PsycLearn Essentials course. Find out what’s included in this course and how to navigate the modules and lessons. You’ll also learn valuable study tips for successful learning.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a foundation in attraction and relationships, which are core topics in social psychology and relationship science

Includes resources from the American Psychological Association, which may be valuable for students pursuing careers in psychology

Explores psychological models of relationship satisfaction, which are essential for understanding interpersonal dynamics

Encourages learners to apply the concepts to their own relationships, which may promote personal growth and self-awareness

Differentiates types of love, which is a concept that may add color to other topics and subjects in psychology

Examines the decision process when people leave relationships, which is a complex topic with real-world implications

Reviews summary

Foundational social psychology of relationships

According to learners, this course provides a solid introduction to the social psychology of attraction and relationships. Many found the material interesting and applicable to their own lives, appreciating the clear structure and reputable source (APA). While the modules cover foundational concepts well, some students felt the quizzes could be challenging or not perfectly aligned with the lecture content. Overall, it's seen as a valuable course for understanding relationship dynamics from a psychological perspective.

Published by the respected American Psychological Association.

"Knowing this was from the APA gave it a lot of credibility and I trusted the content."

"The American Psychological Association branding is a big plus for quality."

"It's great to see a course from a well-respected source like the APA."

Course structure is logical and easy to follow.

"The way the modules were organized made it easy to progress through the material."

"I found the structure very logical, moving from initial attraction to relationship dissolution."

"The course is well-organized, breaking down complex topics into manageable sections."

Provides a good basis in relationship psychology.

"This course provided a great foundational overview of social psychology principles applied to relationships."

"It's a good introduction if you're new to the topic or psychology."

"The course lays a solid foundation for understanding key concepts in attraction."

Material is interesting and applicable to life.

"The topics were very interesting and relevant to my own relationships and interactions."

"I learned a lot about the psychological basis of attraction and how relationships develop. Very applicable!"

"Really enjoyed how the course content could be applied to understanding my own experiences."

"The course material was fascinating and presented in a way that made it easy to understand and relate to personal life."

Assessments sometimes feel misaligned or difficult.

"Some of the quiz questions felt a bit ambiguous or focused on minute details not emphasized in the lectures."

"The quizzes were surprisingly challenging and sometimes didn't seem to test the most important concepts."

"I found myself struggling with the quizzes even after reviewing the material, some questions were misleading."

"The cumulative quiz required very specific recall which was difficult."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Social Psychology of Attraction and Relationships with these activities:

Review Social Psychology Basics

Show steps

Refresh your understanding of fundamental social psychology concepts to provide a solid foundation for learning about attraction and relationships.

Browse courses on Social Psychology

Show steps

Review introductory social psychology textbooks or online resources.
Take practice quizzes on key social psychology concepts.
Summarize major theories and research findings.

Write a Blog Post on a Determinant of Initial Attraction

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of the determinants of initial attraction by writing a blog post that explains one of the determinants to a general audience.

Show steps

Choose a determinant of initial attraction (e.g., propinquity, similarity).
Research the determinant and its underlying mechanisms.
Write a blog post that explains the determinant in a clear and engaging way.
Share your blog post on social media.

Read 'The Psychology of Relationships' by Steve Duck

Show steps

Expand your knowledge of relationship dynamics by reading a comprehensive book on the psychology of relationships.

View Communication in Everyday Life: The Basic... on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'The Psychology of Relationships' by Steve Duck.
Read the book, taking notes on key concepts and theories.
Reflect on how the book's content relates to your own relationships.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Read 'Close Relationships' by Rowland Miller

Show steps

Deepen your understanding of close relationships by reading a comprehensive textbook on the subject.

View Intimate Relationships on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'Close Relationships' by Rowland Miller.
Read the book, focusing on the chapters that align with the course syllabus.
Compare and contrast the book's content with the course materials.

Analyze Your Own Relationships

Show steps

Apply the concepts learned in the course to analyze your own relationships, gaining a deeper understanding of the dynamics at play.

Show steps

Choose a relationship to analyze (romantic, friendship, family).
Identify the factors that contribute to attraction and satisfaction in the relationship.
Consider the potential factors that could lead to dissolution.
Write a reflection on your analysis.

Create a Presentation on a Model of Relationship Satisfaction

Show steps

Solidify your understanding of relationship satisfaction models by creating a presentation that explains and critiques a specific model.

Show steps

Choose a model of relationship satisfaction (e.g., Investment Model, Equity Theory).
Research the model and its supporting evidence.
Prepare a presentation that explains the model, its strengths, and its weaknesses.
Present your findings to a friend or family member.

Discuss Relationship Dissolution with Peers

Show steps

Enhance your understanding of relationship dissolution by discussing the topic with peers and sharing personal experiences.

Show steps

Organize a peer discussion session with classmates or friends.
Discuss the different models of relationship dissolution.
Share personal experiences or observations related to relationship dissolution.
Reflect on the insights gained from the discussion.

Career center

Learners who complete Social Psychology of Attraction and Relationships will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Counselor

A counselor helps individuals navigate personal challenges and improve their mental well-being. A course that provides insight into attraction and relationships may be useful for a counselor. This course explores the mechanisms behind attraction and relationship formation which is valuable when counseling people on their relationships. The course provides an overview of various models of relationship satisfaction which can help a counselor understand the different kinds of satisfaction that people seek. The course reviews the decision process when people leave relationships, which may be particularly helpful to a counselor facilitating a separation or divorce.

See salaries and explore the career path for Counselor

Team Building Facilitator

A team building facilitator designs and leads activities to improve team dynamics. A course in attraction and relationships may help a team building facilitator, because the course provides insights into how people form bonds with one another. This course covers the determinants of initial attraction and the mechanisms of each. A facilitator may consider the course's examination into different kinds of love when thinking about the different kinds of working relationships between team members. The course also explores relationship satisfaction models, which can be useful when assessing team effectiveness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Team Building Facilitator

Social Worker

A social worker provides support and resources to individuals and families facing various challenges. Since social workers often address interpersonal issues, this course is beneficial. This course explores how people learn about one another and the mechanisms underlying initial attraction, which helps understand interactions between people in different social settings. The models of relationship satisfaction and the process of leaving a relationship, also covered in this course, are valuable in helping people navigate their personal conflicts. Social workers may find the course's examination of relationship types particularly useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Customer Success Manager

A customer success manager focuses on building strong relationships with clients. This course will be useful to a customer success manager because the course explores how interpersonal relationships are formed and maintained. This course reviews the psychological mechanisms that underlie initial attraction and the way people come to understand one another. The course reviews models of relationship satisfaction, which can help a customer success manager understand how to foster the kinds of relationships that lead to satisfied and loyal clients. This course also covers the decision process when people leave relationships, which is valuable to prevent client attrition.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Success Manager

Mediator

A mediator facilitates dispute resolution between parties. A mediator can use the concepts taught in this course. This course covers types of love and examines how relationships form. A mediator can use that knowledge to understand the interpersonal dynamics at play in a dispute. Understanding relationship satisfaction models can also help a mediator determine the source and scope of disputes. The course also looks at disengagement from relationships, and this can help a mediator facilitate the end of a disagreement by addressing the mechanisms at play.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mediator

Human Resources Specialist

A human resources specialist manages employee relations and workplace dynamics. A course that covers relationship satisfaction is useful in this role. This course explores the determinants of initial attraction, and understanding these can be useful in understanding how people form social bonds and working relationships. This course delves into understanding the different types of love and relationships, and can help a human resources specialist appreciate the different dynamics in play at work. The course reviews the models of relationship satisfaction with their mechanisms which may be useful to help foster a productive and positive work environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Specialist

Recruiter

A recruiter identifies and selects candidates for job openings. Understanding the underlying drivers of interpersonal attraction, as taught by this course, can help an effective recruiter build rapport with prospective employees. This course covers the primary forces of initial attraction and the way that people come to understand one another. These concepts are useful for a recruiter looking to build a working relationship with a potential candidate. The course's exploration into relationship satisfaction and the types of love can help a recruiter understand the different kinds of working relationships an employee may seek.

See salaries and explore the career path for Recruiter

Nonprofit Program Coordinator

A nonprofit program coordinator manages and implements programs for social impact. A program coordinator needs to understand how to engage individuals and build relationships, and this course may be helpful. The course teaches how people learn about each other and the psychological mechanisms that lead to initial attraction. A program coordinator will find the course's discussions of relationship satisfaction to be useful in building engagement. The course also addresses the decision process when people discontinue relationships, which can help a program coordinator understand the challenge of keeping people engaged.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Program Coordinator

Market Research Analyst

A market research analyst studies consumer behavior to understand what people want and need. This role requires an understanding of how people form opinions and how they are influenced by others, which this course provides. This course introduces the complexities of interpersonal dynamics, such as how people develop initial impressions and how they form relationships with others. Understanding this can be useful in understanding how people form their opinions of products, brands, and companies. This course explores the dynamics of attraction, relationship satisfaction, and dissolution which are valuable for an analyst. The course will help an analyst learn how to interpret data by considering these dynamics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst

Survey Researcher

A survey researcher designs and analyzes surveys to collect data. This course may be useful for a survey researcher who wants to understand how people develop opinions and form relationships. This course details how people form initial impressions and how they decide whether they like someone or not. A survey researcher can use this knowledge during survey design by being sensitive to these dynamics. The course examines psychological models of relationship satisfaction which may be valuable because these describe specific, measurable responses. The course also differentiates types of love, which may be valuable when conducting survey research.

See salaries and explore the career path for Survey Researcher

Social Media Manager

A social media manager develops and executes social media strategies. The course has relevance to this role because it helps a social media manager understand how to build relationships with online audiences. This course covers the determinants of initial attraction and the way that people come to understand one another. The course's discussion of different kinds of love can inform the types of relationships a social media manager may wish to establish with followers. It also addresses relationship satisfaction, which is good for a social media manager to understand when thinking about engagement metrics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager

User Experience Researcher

A user experience researcher studies how people engage with products and services. This course may be helpful to a user experience researcher by providing insights into how people form opinions. The course covers impression formation and how people decide whether they like someone or not, which can be important when understanding user experiences. The models of relationship satisfaction that the course covers can be useful in understanding how users develop attachment to interfaces and services. This course explores the different types of love in relationships, and these may be analogous to the different types of engagement users have with products.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Researcher

Public Relations Specialist

A public relations specialist manages the public image of an organization or individual. Effective public relations relies on understanding how people form opinions and make decisions about whom or what they like, so this course can be valuable. This course describes the mechanisms people use when deciding whether they like someone or not. A public relations specialist may be interested in the course's discussions of impression formation. By understanding models of relationships, a public relations specialist may better appreciate the dynamics at play in a range of public relations situations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist

Instructional Designer

An instructional designer creates educational and training materials. This course may help an instructional designer who wishes to build a learning community by understanding how people form relationships and build rapport. The course explores how individuals learn about one another and the mechanisms underlying the initial attraction of individuals. An instructional designer will find the course's descriptions of relationship satisfaction valuable in understanding how to build engagement. The decision process when people leave relationships can be understood as disengagement with a course, which an instructional designer would want to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Product Marketing Manager

A product marketing manager develops strategies to promote a product to a target audience. This course may help a product marketing manager by providing insights into how people form opinions and build relationships with products. This course explores how people come to understand one another and make decisions about liking others, which can be analogized to how consumers come to understand a product. A product marketing manager may be interested in the course's discussion of the determinants of initial attraction. The course's exploration into different kinds of love may help a product marketing manager understand how users engage with a product.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Marketing Manager

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Social Psychology of Attraction and Relationships.

Communication in Everyday Life

Save

Provides a comprehensive overview of relationship processes, from initial attraction to relationship dissolution. It delves into the theoretical frameworks and empirical research that underpin our understanding of how relationships develop, are maintained, and eventually end. It valuable resource for gaining a deeper understanding of the concepts covered in the course and is often used as a textbook in relationship psychology courses.

Communication in Everyday Life: The Basic Course...

Paperback

$$$$

Intimate Relationships

Save

Widely used textbook that provides a comprehensive overview of the field of close relationships. It covers a broad range of topics, including attraction, love, communication, conflict, and relationship maintenance. It is particularly useful for understanding the research methods used in relationship science and for gaining a deeper appreciation of the complexities of human connection. This book adds breadth to the existing course.

Intimate Relationships

Paperback

Check price

Intimate Relationships

Kindle Edition

Check price

Social Psychology of Attraction and Relationships

Two deals to help you save

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Foundational social psychology of relationships

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses