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Psychology of Human Relationships
Undergraduate | MAQ-PSYX3350 | 2024
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 18 weeks
FEE-HELP available
Psychology of Human Relationships
About this subject
On successful completion of this subject, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate your ability to explain contemporary issues in human relationships from a psychological perspective, with reference to relevant literature.
- Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of competing explanations of issues in the field of human relationships
- Demonstrate understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of research methods used in relationship research.
- Apply findings from empirical research on relationships to real-world relationship issues
- Analyse and critique so-called pop-psychological approaches to relationships from an informed, scientific perspective and effectively communicate findings
- 1. Introduction to Psychology of Human Relationships. Types, structures, functions and processes.
- 2. Interpersonal attraction and mate selection
- 3. Love, lust, attachment and marriage
- 4. Relationship cognition – thinking in close relationships
- 5. Feelings and emotions in close relationships
- 6. Communication and conflict in close relationships
- 7. Friendship and social support
- 8. Families and family dynamics
- 9. Betrayal, punishment and forgiveness in close relationships
- 10. Sex and sexuality
- 11. Personality in close relationships
- 12. Relationship loss and repair
Human beings are fundamentally social creatures who depend on one another for their survival and well-being, both physical and psychological. Everyone is born with powerful needs for love, friendship and belonging; similarly, we fear and avoid rejection, loneliness and the disapproval of others. Despite the central role they play in our lives, however, developing and maintaining happy and healthy relationships with family members, spouses, friends and even workmates is not easy, and professional psychologists spend the bulk of their time dealing with clients' relationship problems. This unit examines a variety of relationship topics from a social psychological perspective including attraction, love and mate selection; kinship, friendship and enemyship; jealousy, betrayal and forgiveness; communication, conflict and aggression; and the processes involved in relationship breakdown and repair. Throughout, there is a strong emphasis on critically examining so-called 'pop' psychological approaches to relationships, and students are encouraged to examine the complexities of relationship structures and processes from different cultural perspectives.
- 800 word research report (25%)
- 1300 word essay (35%)
- Multiple choice invigilated exam (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- 10
Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
one of
- MAQ-PSYX2234-Social and Personality Psychology
MAQ-PSYX234 (Not currently available)
Others
Pre-requisite
PSYX234 or PSYX2234 or PSY234 or PSYU2234
NCCW (pre-2020 units)
PSY350
NCCW (2020 and onwards)
PSYU3350 Psychology of Human Relationships
Additional requirements
- Other requirements -
Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy are not permitted to enrol in OUA units offered by Macquarie University. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.