Social Relations - Conflict, Cooperation, and Attraction

In this topic, you will examine social interactions and explore how people relate to one another. You will begin by investigating challenging patterns of social relations that lead to conflict like prejudice, discrimination, and aggression. Then, you will study how and why humans behave altruistically, and help one another through cooperation and empathy. Finally, you will delve into the causes of attraction.

Essential Questions

• What are stereotypes and how do they influence prejudice and discrimination?
• How do social psychologists define aggression and violence, and what factors influence the likelihood of these behaviors?
• What factors help minimize conflict and promote cooperation between groups?
• What is altruism and what factors make humans more likely to display altruistic behavior?
• What basic factors influence attractiveness?