Course Information

In this graduate topical seminar, we will read extensively about and critically evaluate an exciting and contemporary subtopic within the larger field of social psychology. Specific topics of study will typically vary as the course rotates from semester to semester and from faculty member to faculty member.

There are no required textbooks for this course. All assigned readings will be available on the D2L site for this course. Please see the list of assigned readings at the end of the syllabus.

This graduate seminar will focus on the interplay between the self and relationships. Specifically, the course will concentrate on how individual differences and aspects of the self (e.g., narcissism, self-esteem, self-regulation, rejection sensitivity, mental health disorders) affect relationships with others and how interactions and relationships with others (e.g., romantic relationships, social support, stigma, social rejection) affect aspects of the self. The objective of this course is to review past and current research pertaining to this topic, reading extensively about this topic and critically evaluating the literature, to obtain greater knowledge on the interaction between the self and social relationships. 

At the conclusion of this course, students are expected to:

1. Explain, compare and contrast, and critically discuss and evaluate empirical research examining how individual difference factors, such as self-esteem, rejection sensitivity, narcissism, attachment styles, excessive reassurance seeking, self-regulation and self-control, and psychological disorders influence how people relate to others and their relationships;

2. Explain, compare and contrast, and critically discuss and evaluate empirical research examining how interacting with others influence aspects of the self in the contexts of self-regulation and self-control, social rejection, social support, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), social stigma, and computer-mediated communication.

3. Integrate what you learn this semester into your own research interests through a research project (e.g., research proposal, research report).