All Rights Reserved.
This work has been summarised from the textbook Psychology: An Introduction
5e, by authors L. Swartz, C. de la Rey, N. Duncan, L. Townsend, V. O’Neill, and
M. Makhubela.
ISBN 9780190748906
It includes notes taken based on lecture slides from relevant topic lecturers, all of
whom are named in the appropriate section. These notes are elaborations based on
the author’s own understanding.
This document, including all content and materials contained within, is the
intellectual property of Arièlle Denis. No part of these notes may be reproduced,
distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying,
recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written
permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical
reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by the copyright law.
For permission requests, please contact the author at
© 2025 Arièlle Denis,
University of Cape Town. All rights reserved.
, INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY iI
PSY1005S | Term 4
Social Psychology | Part 6 of Swartz et al. textbook
by Haile Matutu
→ Study of people’s experiences, lives and the impact of society on one’s life – how people are
socialised, differently
Question: Should it exist alongside other branches of psychology? Which topics should it then
focus on?
Features and differences
● Psychology is the study of human behaviour
● Humans are social and therefore impact and are impacted by the world
● There are varying sub-disciplines
○ Individual: Brain, behaviour, personality
○ Social: Interactions with others, e.g. interracial, social influence
What does Social Psychology examine?
● How people affect each other’s behaviours, thoughts and feelings
● How human behaviour is shaped by social contexts
● How humans interpret social contexts and are shaped by them
Social phenomena is influenced by human behaviour – e.g. violence, poverty, peace
Locating the social
● Social Psychology evolved from an individual → social → political discipline
● It changes across national, interdisciplinary and contextual boundaries
● Historical agenda setting – roots in psychology and sociology
● Studies a wide range of topics influenced by several disciplines
What are the core focus areas of Social Psychology?
● Social thinking
○ Perceptions, beliefs, judgements
● Social influence
○ Culture, pressures, persuasion, groups of people
● Social relations
○ Prejudice, oppression
Why is Social Psychology useful?
● It is a psychology of society
, ● It uses specific contexts
● It focuses on real people and their lives
TOPIC 1 – Interpersonal Attraction
Question: How much does context shape attraction?
● The need to experience a positive relationship is often motivation for personal attraction
● The need for belonging differs – an introvert may have few strong relationships, while an
extrovert may have multiple
If someone’s needs are unmet in a relationship, their human and cognitive functioning will be
poorer, they may experience rejection, social exclusion, etc. Some people avoid these
relationships, while others need them – one’s affect/mood is therefore an important factor.
Internal Determinants
● Affiliation – need to belong
● Transient affect – mood shapes liking
External Determinants
● Proximity
● Perceived similarity
● Physical attractiveness/Halo effect
● Reciprocity effect
Theories and Explanations
● Social exchange theory
○ Cost-benefit, transactional
○ People exchange resources or services to gain higher rewards than costs – each
person has their own comparison level and if expectations don’t match their
experiences, they may seek a new relationship
● Equity theory
○ Perceptions of justice and fairness in the relationship
○ People try to maximise their outcomes by evaluating and comparing rewards and
costs, want to feel efforts and rewards in their relationship are equal to the other
person’s.
○ If over or under benefitting, will try to correct.
● Evolutionary theory
○ Genetic transmission of “desirable” characteristics
, ○ Mate selection – men seek physical beauty and youth as indicating health and
fertility, while women seek stable social and financial partners who can provide
resources
● Socio-cultural theory
○ Norms influence attraction
○ Sexual attraction and behaviour are not biologically based
Influences and determinants co-exist and mutually influence each other. Some things also
become less important over the long-term and in long-term relationships.
Romantic love
● Sternberg’s triangular model of love
○ Intimacy: Warmth and closeness → Liking: No passion/commitment
○ Passion: Intense feelings, including but not limited to sexual → Infatuation:
Complete absorption
○ Commitment: Intent to continue the relationship → Empty love: Commitment
only
● Attachment theory – argues that three main infant attachment styles eventually
characterise close adult interpersonal relationships
○ Warm, responsive parenting → Secure attachments
○ Cold, rejecting parenting → Avoidant attachments
○ Ambivalent, inconsistent parenting → Anxious, ambivalent attachments
But love also surpasses attraction, as it is hard to extract a person from their context and
environment (James Baldwin).
Loneliness
→ The desire for closeness and connection with others is not fulfilled
Often experienced during various life stages and life transitions, e.g. divorce, death, COVID-19
However, chronic loneliness is associated with impaired physical and mental health, higher stress
levels – social isolation also increases the risk of an early death.
● Question: What is the role of technology in spreading or preventing loneliness?
Terminology
Affect: a person’s emotional state, which may include both positive and negative
feelings and moods
This work has been summarised from the textbook Psychology: An Introduction
5e, by authors L. Swartz, C. de la Rey, N. Duncan, L. Townsend, V. O’Neill, and
M. Makhubela.
ISBN 9780190748906
It includes notes taken based on lecture slides from relevant topic lecturers, all of
whom are named in the appropriate section. These notes are elaborations based on
the author’s own understanding.
This document, including all content and materials contained within, is the
intellectual property of Arièlle Denis. No part of these notes may be reproduced,
distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying,
recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written
permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical
reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by the copyright law.
For permission requests, please contact the author at
© 2025 Arièlle Denis,
University of Cape Town. All rights reserved.
, INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY iI
PSY1005S | Term 4
Social Psychology | Part 6 of Swartz et al. textbook
by Haile Matutu
→ Study of people’s experiences, lives and the impact of society on one’s life – how people are
socialised, differently
Question: Should it exist alongside other branches of psychology? Which topics should it then
focus on?
Features and differences
● Psychology is the study of human behaviour
● Humans are social and therefore impact and are impacted by the world
● There are varying sub-disciplines
○ Individual: Brain, behaviour, personality
○ Social: Interactions with others, e.g. interracial, social influence
What does Social Psychology examine?
● How people affect each other’s behaviours, thoughts and feelings
● How human behaviour is shaped by social contexts
● How humans interpret social contexts and are shaped by them
Social phenomena is influenced by human behaviour – e.g. violence, poverty, peace
Locating the social
● Social Psychology evolved from an individual → social → political discipline
● It changes across national, interdisciplinary and contextual boundaries
● Historical agenda setting – roots in psychology and sociology
● Studies a wide range of topics influenced by several disciplines
What are the core focus areas of Social Psychology?
● Social thinking
○ Perceptions, beliefs, judgements
● Social influence
○ Culture, pressures, persuasion, groups of people
● Social relations
○ Prejudice, oppression
Why is Social Psychology useful?
● It is a psychology of society
, ● It uses specific contexts
● It focuses on real people and their lives
TOPIC 1 – Interpersonal Attraction
Question: How much does context shape attraction?
● The need to experience a positive relationship is often motivation for personal attraction
● The need for belonging differs – an introvert may have few strong relationships, while an
extrovert may have multiple
If someone’s needs are unmet in a relationship, their human and cognitive functioning will be
poorer, they may experience rejection, social exclusion, etc. Some people avoid these
relationships, while others need them – one’s affect/mood is therefore an important factor.
Internal Determinants
● Affiliation – need to belong
● Transient affect – mood shapes liking
External Determinants
● Proximity
● Perceived similarity
● Physical attractiveness/Halo effect
● Reciprocity effect
Theories and Explanations
● Social exchange theory
○ Cost-benefit, transactional
○ People exchange resources or services to gain higher rewards than costs – each
person has their own comparison level and if expectations don’t match their
experiences, they may seek a new relationship
● Equity theory
○ Perceptions of justice and fairness in the relationship
○ People try to maximise their outcomes by evaluating and comparing rewards and
costs, want to feel efforts and rewards in their relationship are equal to the other
person’s.
○ If over or under benefitting, will try to correct.
● Evolutionary theory
○ Genetic transmission of “desirable” characteristics
, ○ Mate selection – men seek physical beauty and youth as indicating health and
fertility, while women seek stable social and financial partners who can provide
resources
● Socio-cultural theory
○ Norms influence attraction
○ Sexual attraction and behaviour are not biologically based
Influences and determinants co-exist and mutually influence each other. Some things also
become less important over the long-term and in long-term relationships.
Romantic love
● Sternberg’s triangular model of love
○ Intimacy: Warmth and closeness → Liking: No passion/commitment
○ Passion: Intense feelings, including but not limited to sexual → Infatuation:
Complete absorption
○ Commitment: Intent to continue the relationship → Empty love: Commitment
only
● Attachment theory – argues that three main infant attachment styles eventually
characterise close adult interpersonal relationships
○ Warm, responsive parenting → Secure attachments
○ Cold, rejecting parenting → Avoidant attachments
○ Ambivalent, inconsistent parenting → Anxious, ambivalent attachments
But love also surpasses attraction, as it is hard to extract a person from their context and
environment (James Baldwin).
Loneliness
→ The desire for closeness and connection with others is not fulfilled
Often experienced during various life stages and life transitions, e.g. divorce, death, COVID-19
However, chronic loneliness is associated with impaired physical and mental health, higher stress
levels – social isolation also increases the risk of an early death.
● Question: What is the role of technology in spreading or preventing loneliness?
Terminology
Affect: a person’s emotional state, which may include both positive and negative
feelings and moods
