Undergraduate Course: Science of Close Relationships (PSYL10141)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course provides an overview of theory and research on close relationships. With an emphasis on empirical evidence, we will focus on how relationship dynamics meaningfully influence human psychology, and vice versa. We will examine how relationship processes relate to multiple areas of psychology (e.g., biological, cognitive, developmental, social), with particular attention to the social level. This course will likely challenge some of your (and society's) preconceptions about relationships. |
| Course description |
Close relationships are frequently listed among the factors that make life most meaningful. At the present time, the field of relationship science is characterized by an enormous breadth of content, several unique methodological and statistical challenges, and meta-theories around which various empirical findings are integrated and organized.
In this course, we will cover the major theoretical perspectives and methodologies related to the scientific study of close relationships. With an emphasis on empirical evidence, we will focus on how relationship dynamics meaningfully influence human psychology, and vice versa. We will examine how relationship processes relate to multiple areas of psychology (e.g., biological, cognitive, developmental, social), with particular attention to the social level. This course will likely challenge some of your (and society's) preconceptions about intimate relationships.
Each week we will explore a different aspect of close relationships and how relationship processes relate to human psychology. Classes will consist of a mixture of lectures, large and small group discussions, and other activities. Assessments will emphasize independent learning, critical analysis, writing skills, and communication with different audiences.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students who are Psychology majors and in their third or final year at their home university are welcome to take this course. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Examine close relationships from an empirically-based, scholarly perspective, rather than from an intuitive or speculative perspective based solely on personal experience and observations.
- Understand a number of classical and contemporary theoretical frameworks and methodologies that characterize the scientific study of close relationships.
- Recognize several ways in which relationship processes occur in daily life and evaluate situations relevant to close relationships and make predictions about behavior.
- Explain the scientific study of close relationships to a non-academic/non-psychologist.
- Identify critical questions that must be asked if a stronger, more complete, and more integrated science of close relationships is to emerge, and develop an empirical project that could test these questions.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | psychology,relationships |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Sarah Stanton
Tel: (0131 6)50 8387
Email: Sarah.Stanton@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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