Introduction
Social psychology is generally regarded as the scientific study of how other people, social situations, and larger, similar social events influence people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It examines how social contexts shape individual behavior, attitudes, and beliefs, and how social interactions between individuals can shape group dynamics and larger social structures. Social psychology deals with two major types of human relationships: intrapersonal and interpersonal (Spielman et al., 2022).
The first type refers to the relationship that pertains to an inner self. It concerns understanding one’s feelings and emotions, attitudes, and social cognition. By contrast, the second one refers to people’s relationships with others. It involves helping behavior, aggression, prejudice and discrimination, attraction, and close relationships. Both relationships are essential for an individual’s well-being and can impact each other.
Insights
Spielman et al. (2022) dedicate most of their sections to describing and analyzing the two levels of personal relationships. What I found the most interesting in their discussions was the notable positive social interactions mentioned in Section 12.7. These include such prosocial behaviors as altruism, empathy, and homophily. The first one defines the desire of people to help others, even if it is inconvenient for them or not beneficial.
It is one of the major human features that expresses kindness and support. The second behavior deals with understanding and sharing another person’s feelings. It involves experiencing one’s emotions without losing one’s identity or perspective.
Homophily refers to the tendency of individuals to associate with others who are similar to them in some way. Understanding its driving factors can help individuals and organizations create more inclusive and diverse environments. Positive social behaviors can help promote positive relationships and interactions and contribute to a more positive and supportive social environment (Spielman et al., 2022).
Additionally, I learned about the two psychological theories detailed in the same Section. Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love describes the three components of love in a relationship: intimacy, passion, and commitment. The first component refers to emotional closeness and connectedness. It involves feelings of warmth, sharing, and mutual support.
The second one refers to the intense emotional and physical attraction between two people. Passion is often associated with sexual desire, but can also mean the excitement and thrill of being with a loved one. Commitment, in turn, refers to the decision to maintain a long-term relationship with another person.
Conclusion
It concerns a sense of dedication and responsibility towards the relationship and a willingness to work through difficulties and challenges together. The theory suggests that a healthy, fulfilling relationship requires all three elements to be present in some form (Spielman et al., 2022). Another theory detailed in the section is the social exchange theory. It suggests that individuals decide about their relationships and social interactions based on perceived costs and benefits.
Compared to naive economists, people prefer the benefits to outweigh the costs of maintaining a relationship and engaging in social exchange. The theory can help explain why people might enter into or leave a relationship, engage in social comparison, and seek social support (Spielman et al., 2022).
Reference
Spielman, R. M., Dumper, K., Jenkins, W., Lacombe, A., Lovett, M., & Perlmutter, M. (2022). Psychology. OpenStax. Web.