The Psychology of Close Relationships

3 units

This course will examine close relationships from a scientific perspective. The course will focus on intimate relationships but will also touch on friendships and family relationships. The objective of this course is to introduce you to the scientific perspective of close relationships. You will learn how research psychologists apply the scientific method of data collection and analysis to investigate how people experience and think about relationships. We will explore questions such as: Why are people attracted to some people but not others? How do relationships develop over time? How does each person's personality influence the trajectory of a relationship? How do external factors (e.g., social norms, stress, life events) influence relationships? How do gender and sexual orientation influence people's experiences in romantic relationships?