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Self, Relationships, & Prosocial Behavior, Reflection 1 –…
Self, Relationships, & Prosocial Behavior
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Attraction and Proximity
Proximity refers to physical and functional closeness, meaning people are more likely to form relationships with those they frequently encounter
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The mere exposure effect explains that repeated exposure to a person increases attraction because familiarity feels safe and predictable
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Love and Biology
Romantic love activates brain systems related to reward and addiction, producing intense emotional and physiological reactions
Research shows serotonin and reward-related brain activity increase when people fall in love, similar to addiction
Breakups activate pain-related brain systems, explaining why emotional heartbreak can feel physically painful
Long-term love develops through conditioning, repeated rewards, habits, and emotional bonding over time
Online Relationships
Internet relationships reduce the importance of physical proximity and allow people to connect across distances
Online relationships can create emotional intimacy but also involve risks such as deception and misrepresentation
Introduction to the Self
The self refers to how individuals understand, define, and experience their identity over time
People define themselves through personal characteristics, relationships, social roles, experiences, and goals
Questions about identity involve understanding where the sense of self comes from and what aspects are most valued
The Social Actor
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Humans evolved to cooperate, compete, and seek social acceptance because survival depended on group membership
Social reputation develops through personality traits and social roles, such as being a student, friend, or coworker
Children begin recognizing themselves and understanding emotions like shame and guilt during early development
The Motivated Agent
The motivated agent refers to the self as a goal-directed individual with desires, values, and ambitions
Theory of mind allows people to understand that behavior is motivated by internal thoughts, goals, and emotions
As children develop, they become more intentional in pursuing goals and forming life values
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Prosocial Behavior
Prosocial behavior refers to actions intended to help or benefit others, such as assisting someone in need
Helping behavior is influenced by social situations, personality traits, empathy, and perceived costs and rewards
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Personality and Helping
People high in agreeableness are more likely to be kind, compassionate, and willing to help others
Other-oriented empathy involves understanding another person’s distress and feeling motivated to reduce it
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Altruism vs Egoism
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Egoistic motives involve helping to satisfy personal needs, such as reducing guilt or improving mood
The negative-state relief model suggests people help others partly to make themselves feel better emotionally
Empathy-Altruism Model
The empathy-altruism model states that empathic concern motivates people to help others even when helping is costly
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Social Support
Received social support refers to actually receiving help from others, though support may not always feel helpful if unwanted
Social support improves well-being and buffers against stress by increasing feelings of security and belonging
Perceived social support refers to the belief that supportive people are available during difficult times
Reflection 1 – Relationships and Identity
Learning about relationships and attraction made me realize how much social connections shape identity and emotional well-being. Friendships and close relationships provide support, purpose, and a sense of belonging. I noticed that many relationships develop naturally through repeated interaction and familiarity rather than completely random factors. This helped me understand why people often become close to classmates, coworkers, or others they see frequently. It also made me more aware of how relationships influence happiness and self-esteem.
Reflection 2 – The Self and Personal Narratives
The concept of the autobiographical author changed how I think about identity. I realized that people constantly create stories about themselves based on experiences, goals, and memories. These stories influence confidence, motivation, and future decisions. For example, someone who repeatedly sees themselves as unsuccessful may begin acting according to that belief. This made me understand how powerful self-perception can be and how identity develops over time through reflection and experiences.
Reflection 3 – Helping and Human Nature
Learning about prosocial behavior and the bystander effect made me think differently about helping others. I used to assume people always help when someone is in need, but the bystander effect showed that social situations can reduce responsibility and action. At the same time, empathy and kindness motivate many people to help even at personal cost. This helped me realize that human behavior is influenced by both situational pressures and personal values. It also made me more aware of the importance of taking responsibility when others need help.