Social Psychology of Attraction and Relationships
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Social Psychology of Attraction and Relationships
This course is part of Discover Yourself, Build Relationships, and Navigate Groups Specialization
Instructor: Kyle Smith
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What you'll learn
Describe foundational concepts in how psychology understands relationships. Identify how each of the four determinants of initial attraction works.
Explain how we form impressions of other people, the nature of love, and the processes involved in terminating relationships.
Use different models of relationships to predict whether a relationship will be satisfying or not, and whether it will last.
Details to know
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There are 10 modules in this course
This course provides information about attraction and relationships, broadly defined. Topics in the course include how people learn about each other, the mechanisms that underlying the initial decisions on whether we like people or not, and psychological models of relationship satisfaction. The course also differentiates types of love and describes the decision process when people leave relationships. Within each of these topics, people are encouraged to apply the concepts to their own relationships.
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.
What's included
1 video7 readings
1 video•Total 3 minutes
- A Welcome Video From Your Instructor•3 minutes
7 readings•Total 21 minutes
- Welcome to PsycLearn Essentials•3 minutes
- Survey: What Would You Like to See Next?•2 minutes
- How to Earn Certificates•2 minutes
- What’s in Your Course•5 minutes
- Study Tips for Success in PsycLearn Essentials•3 minutes
- Additional Information•5 minutes
- Representation in Research•1 minute
This foundational module lays out the pathway the course will take, acquaints you with how psychologists think about attraction, demonstrates the psychological and health benefits of relationships, and discusses the different types of models that psychologists use when analyzing attraction and relationships.
What's included
3 videos2 readings2 assignments
3 videos•Total 12 minutes
- Important Information About the Course•5 minutes
- Course and Module Learning Objectives•3 minutes
- How Psychologists Think About Attraction and Relationships•5 minutes
2 readings•Total 25 minutes
- Why Do We Seek Relationships?•15 minutes
- Key Takeaways: Foundations of Attraction and Relationships•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 18 minutes
- Module Quiz: Foundations of Attraction and Relationships•10 minutes
- Check Your Understanding: Models and Motivations•8 minutes
This module covers the way people come to understand what other people are like and how they come to the decision of whether they like the other person or not.
What's included
2 videos5 readings3 assignments
2 videos•Total 8 minutes
- Introduction and Learning Objectives•3 minutes
- Categories and Traits•5 minutes
5 readings•Total 45 minutes
- How Do You Decide If You Like Someone?•5 minutes
- How Do We Know What Traits People Have?•10 minutes
- How Do We Combine Traits Into an Overall Impression?•10 minutes
- Tweaking Impression Formation Models•10 minutes
- Key Takeaways: Impression Formation•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 26 minutes
- Module Quiz: Impression Formation•14 minutes
- Check Your Understanding: Understanding What Others Are Like•6 minutes
- Check Your Understanding: Forming an Overall Impression•6 minutes
This module covers the four primary determinants of initial attraction—propinquity, similarity, physical attractiveness, and reciprocal liking—and describes the mechanisms of each.
What's included
2 videos4 readings2 assignments
2 videos•Total 7 minutes
- Introduction and Learning Objectives•2 minutes
- Propinquity•4 minutes
4 readings•Total 45 minutes
- Similarity•10 minutes
- Physical Attractiveness•15 minutes
- Reciprocal Liking•10 minutes
- Key Takeaways: Determinants of Initial Attraction•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 22 minutes
- Module Quiz: Determinants of Initial Attraction•14 minutes
- Check Your Understanding: Factors That Increase Liking•8 minutes
This module covers the different types of love that occur in friendship and romantic relationships, along with theories that describe their operation.
What's included
2 videos4 readings2 assignments
2 videos•Total 9 minutes
- Introduction and Learning Objectives•2 minutes
- Different Types of Love•8 minutes
4 readings•Total 45 minutes
- The Physiology of Love•10 minutes
- The Triangular Theory of Love•15 minutes
- Cross-Cultural Differences in Love•10 minutes
- Key Takeaways: Understanding Love•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 22 minutes
- Module Quiz: Understanding Love•14 minutes
- Check Your Understanding: What Is Love?•8 minutes
This module covers several different models of relationship satisfaction as well as the mental processes that control whether we stay in or leave relationships.
What's included
2 videos6 readings3 assignments
2 videos•Total 10 minutes
- Introduction and Learning Objectives•3 minutes
- Other Predictors of Relationship Satisfaction•7 minutes
6 readings•Total 75 minutes
- The Least Romantic Theory of Relationships•15 minutes
- Different Types of Relationships•15 minutes
- The Attachment Theory of Relationships•10 minutes
- Leaving Good Relationships and Staying in Bad Ones•15 minutes
- When Relationships End•10 minutes
- Key Takeaways: Relationship Satisfaction and Dissolution•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 36 minutes
- Module Quiz: Relationship Satisfaction and Dissolution•20 minutes
- Check Your Understanding: Understanding Romantic Relationships•8 minutes
- Check Your Understanding: Relationships Ending•8 minutes
This module contains information that will help you review the important concepts of the course and prepare you for the cumulative quiz. The module is broken down by learning objective, with each lesson containing key takeaways and key vocabulary relevant to that learning objective.
What's included
1 video14 readings
1 video•Total 3 minutes
- Introduction to the Course Summary•3 minutes
14 readings•Total 130 minutes
- Key Takeaways•10 minutes
- Key Terms•5 minutes
- Key Takeaways•10 minutes
- Key Terms•5 minutes
- Key Takeaways•10 minutes
- Key Visuals•5 minutes
- Key Terms•10 minutes
- Key Takeaways•15 minutes
- Key Visuals•5 minutes
- Key Terms•10 minutes
- Key Takeaways•15 minutes
- Key Terms•10 minutes
- Key Takeaways•10 minutes
- Key Terms•10 minutes
This module contains a quiz covering all of the material in this course. It will count for 30% of your total course grade, so make sure you’ve reviewed the material well. Good luck!
What's included
1 video1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Instructor’s Note: Next Steps•1 minute
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Cumulative Quiz: Social Psychology of Attraction and Relationships•30 minutes
This module contains a glossary, course references, and a list of contributors to the course.
What's included
3 readings
3 readings•Total 3 minutes
- Glossary•1 minute
- References•1 minute
- Contributors•1 minute
This module provides a variety of information and tools from the American Psychological Association (APA) that will help inspire you as you complete your coursework and plan your career goals. Explore APA resources on various psychological issues and scholarly research and writing; a list of sites providing valuable resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion in psychology education and in the professional community; resources on a career in psychology; and links to career opportunities at the APA.
What's included
8 readings
8 readings•Total 19 minutes
- Introduction to APA Resources•5 minutes
- Student Resources•2 minutes
- APA Style®, Research, and Writing•2 minutes
- Students from Diverse Ethnic, Cultural, and Economic Backgrounds•2 minutes
- Psychology Help Center•2 minutes
- Psychology Careers•2 minutes
- Careers and Internships at APA•2 minutes
- Other APA Resources•2 minutes
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Reviewed on Mar 23, 2026
I enjoyed learning about relationships even though I am alone.
Frequently asked questions
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When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
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