03. Social Interaction l

Question 1

Evolutionary perspective (Hare, 2017)

Answer 1

Humans evolved to be social in order to survive

Question 2

Evidence for evolutionary perspective (on relationships)

Answer 2

• Relationships are easy to form and difficult to break (Bowlby, 1969)
• Without close connections, we suffer. Rejection causes pain, reduced wellbeing, intellectual functioning (e.g., DeWall & Bushman, 2011) & lack of social network is a strong predictor of illness and mortality (Coyne et al., 2001; Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010)

Question 3

Evidence that our need to belong can be satiated:

Answer 3

We have a limited number of friends: ~6 friends in college (Wheeler & Nezlek, 1977) & people spend less time with friends when in a romantic relationship

Question 4

What studies show that the need to belong is universal

Answer 4

(Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Hazan & Shaver, 1994)

Question 5

How does socialising make people thrive?

Answer 5

• Pleasant daily social interactions = greater life satisfaction (Sun et al., 2020)
• The top 10% of happiest people are highly social (Diener & Seligman, 2002)

Question 6

What is attraction?

Answer 6

• Evaluating another person positively (not just romantic)
• We are often attracted to people whose presence is rewarding (Clore & Byrne, 1974)

Question 7

What forces attract?

Answer 7

Reciprocity (we like people that like us)
Similarity
Familiarity / proximity

Question 8

Evidence for Reciprocity (we like people that like us)

Answer 8

• We like others more after knowing they like us (Backman & Secord, 1959; Birnbaum et al., 2018)
• They like us specifically (not just everyone)

Question 9

Evidence for similarity

Answer 9

• We like people like us, especially those with similar backgrounds (e.g., age, race, education), interests, attitudes and values (e.g., Hampton et al., 2019)
• Trust others more when similar (Singh et al., 2017)
• Feel assured others will like us & enjoy spending time with similar others (Hampton et al., 2019)
• Perceived similarity makes people like each other more than actual similarity (Tidwell et al., 2013)
• Perceived similarity increases the more relationships progress (Goel et al., 2010)

Question 10

Evidence for familiarity/proximity

Answer 10

• MIT Housing Study - those who were roomed near each other were more likely to be friends. This effect was increased as distance decreased.
• HOWEVER: initial disliking may breed contempt after further exposure (Norton et al., 2013)