Close Relationships

This course will explore the many psychological mechanisms that play a part in close personal relationships. Using psychological research as our foundation, students will be led in discussions and about attraction, love, lust, and other topics pertinent to close relationships. Students will be asked to think deeply about the social constructs that influence human preferences, and the biopsychosocial processes at play. The course will begin by dissecting the concepts ofattractionandlove. Once a basis for understanding these fundamental concepts is established, we will progress into discussions about attachment theory and interpersonal dynamics such as jealousy, power, stigmatization, and communication. All matter of relationships (interpersonal, homosexual, asexual, heterosexual, polyamorous, etc.) will be discussed across topics. Lastly, we will finish the course discussing the portrayal of sex in the media and online, and its implications on sex education and sexual understanding.