2010 Course Handbook
This is archived information!
Search current Handbook for current unit information.
PSY350: The Psychology of Human Relationships
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, intimacy, friendship and belonging; similarly, we fear and avoid rejection, loneliness and the disapproval or hatred of others. Despite the central role they play in our lives, however, developing and maintaining happy and healthy relationships with family members, lovers, spouses, friends and even workmates or neighbours is not easy, and professional psychologists spend the bulk of their time dealing with clients' relationship problems. This third-year unit examines a variety of relationship topics such as attraction and mate selection; trust and friendship; aggression and violence; hatred and love; from a social psychological perspective. Throughout, there is a strong emphasis critically examining so called pop psychological approaches to relationship phenomena, and students are encouraged to examine the complexities of relationship initiation, breakdown and repair from different cultural perspectives.
| Credit Points: | 3 |
| Contact Hours: | 3 |
| When Offered: | D2 - Day; Offered in the second half-year |
| Staff Contact(s): | Associate Professor Julie Fitness |
| Prerequisites: |
40cp |
| Corequisites: | |
| NCCW(s): | PSY334 |
| Unit Designation(s): | |
| Assessed As: | Graded |
| Offered By: | Department of Psychology |
| People or Planet: | People |
Timetable Information
For unit timetable information please visit the Timetables@Macquarie Website .