OVERVIEW Write a 3–4-page assessment in which you use research articles to examine how social connections and support can promote physical and mental health. Social psychology can help us understand our relationships with others. SHOW LESS By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria: • Competency 2: Apply social psychological research and theory to examine social perception, social interaction, and social influence. • Explain how research findings in the field of social psychology can help individuals understand relationships with others. • Competency 4: Examine the research methods frequently used in the study of social psychology. • Describe the data collection methods used in research studies in the field of social psychology. • Describe the designs used in research studies in the field of social psychology. • Explain arguments made by researchers in the field of social psychology. • Explain research findings in the field of social psychology. • Competency 7: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for professionals in the field of psychology. • Write coherently to support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a psychology professional. Use APA format and style. CONTEXT What causes people to be drawn to one another? What happens when one experiences rejection? Human beings are wired for relationships. Unlike some species that do not organize socially, such as koalas and jaguars, humans need relationships. We are what Baumeister and Bushman refer to as cultural animals, immersing ourselves within social groups. Humans engage in relationships of all kinds from family, acquaintances and friends, to romantic partners. Belonging is a basic human need (Baumeister & Bushman, 2014). QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER • To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the business community. • What causes people to be drawn to one another? • What happens when one experiences rejection? RESOURCES Resources InstanceBegin template="/Templates/FlexpathCollpases.dwt" codeOutsideHTMLIsLocked="false" InstanceBeginEditable name="FirstParagraph" Suggested Resources The following optional resources are provided to support you in completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context. For additional resources, refer to the Research Resources and Supplemental Resources in the left navigation menu of your courseroom. Library Resources The following e-books or articles from the Capella University Library are linked directly in this course. Note : Some of the articles listed are fairly old and are included here because they are considered seminal works in the field. • Cockshaw, W. D., Shochet, I. M., & Obst, P. L. (2013). General belongingness.

1. OVERVIEW
Write a 3–4-page assessment in which you use research articles
to examine how social connections and support can promote
physical and mental health.
Social psychology can help us understand our relationships with
others.
SHOW LESS
By successfully completing this assessment, you will
demonstrate your proficiency in the following course
competencies and assessment criteria:
•
Competency 2: Apply social psychological research and theory
to examine social perception, social interaction, and social
influence.
•
Explain how research findings in the field of social psychology
can help individuals understand relationships with others.
•
Competency 4: Examine the research methods frequently used
in the study of social psychology.
•
Describe the data collection methods used in research studies in
the field of social psychology.
•
Describe the designs used in research studies in the field of
social psychology.
•
Explain arguments made by researchers in the field of social

2. psychology.
•
Explain research findings in the field of social psychology.
•
Competency 7: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly,
professional, and consistent with expectations for professionals
in the field of psychology.
•
Write coherently to support a central idea with correct grammar,
usage, and mechanics as expected of a psychology professional.
Use APA format and style.
CONTEXT
What causes people to be drawn to one another? What happens
when one experiences rejection? Human beings are wired for
relationships. Unlike some species that do not organize socially,
such as koalas and jaguars, humans need relationships. We are
what Baumeister and Bushman refer to as cultural animals,
immersing ourselves within social groups. Humans engage in
relationships of all kinds from family, acquaintances and
friends, to romantic partners. Belonging is a basic human need
(Baumeister & Bushman, 2014).
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
•
To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider
the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a
work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the
business community.

3. •
What causes people to be drawn to one another?
•
What happens when one experiences rejection?
RESOURCES
Resources
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codeOutsideHTMLIsLocked="false" InstanceBeginEditable
name="FirstParagraph"
Suggested Resources
The following optional resources are provided to support you in
completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context. For
additional resources, refer to the Research Resources and
Supplemental Resources in the left navigation menu of your
courseroom.
Library Resources
The following e-books or articles from the Capella University
Library are linked directly in this course.
Note
: Some of the articles listed are fairly old and are included here
because they are considered seminal works in the field.
•
Cockshaw, W. D., Shochet, I. M., & Obst, P. L. (2013).
General belongingness, workplace belongingness, and
depressive symptoms
.
Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology
,
23

4. (3), 240–251.
•
Cyranowski, J. M., Zill, N., Bode, R., Butt, Z., Kelly, M. A. R.,
Pilkonis, P. A., & . . . Cella, D. (2013).
Assessing social support, companionship, and distress: National
Institute of Health (NIH) Toolbox Adult Social Relationship
Scales
.
Health Psychology
,
32
(3), 293–301.
•
Hogg, M. A., & Hains, S. C. (1996).
Intergroup relations and group solidarity: Effects of group
identification and social beliefs on depersonalized attraction
.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
,
70
(2), 295–309.
•
Kaniasty, K. (2012).
Predicting social psychological well-being following trauma:
The role of postdisaster social support
.
Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
,
4
(1), 22–33.
•
Major, B., Mendes, W. B., & Dovidio, J. F. (2013).

5. Intergroup relations and health disparities: A social
psychological perspective
.
Health Psychology
,
32
(5), 514–524.
•
Mejias, N. J., Gill, C. J., & Shpigelman, C. (2014).
Influence of a support group for young women with disabilities
on sense of belonging
.
Journal of Counseling Psychology
,
61
(2), 208–220.
•
Uchino, B. N., Cawthon, R. M., Smith, T. W., Light, K. C.,
McKenzie, J., Carlisle, M., & . . . Bowen, K. (2012).
Social relationships and health: Is feeling positive, negative, or
both (ambivalent) about your social ties related to telomeres?
Health Psychology
,
31
(6), 789–796.
•
Wallace, T. L., Ye, F., & Chhuon, V. (2012).
Subdimensions of adolescent belonging in high school
.
Applied Developmental Science
,
16
(3), 122–139.

6. InstanceEndEditable
SHOW LESS
InstanceBeginEditable name="RemainingParagraphs"
Course Library Guide
A Capella University library guide has been created specifically
for your use in this course. You are encouraged to refer to the
resources in the
Introduction to Social Psychology Library Guide
to help direct your research.
Bookstore Resources
The resources listed below are relevant to the topics and
assessments in this course and are not required. Unless noted
otherwise, these materials are available for purchase from the
Capella University Bookstore
. When searching the bookstore, be sure to look for the Course
ID with the specific
–FP
(FlexPath) course designation.
•
Baumeister, R. F., & Bushman, B. J. (2014).
Social psychology & human nature
(3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Chapters 11 and 12.
ASSESSMENT
INSTRUCTIONS
To prepare for this assessment, search in the Capella library for
research articles on how social connections and support can
promote physical and mental health. Choose two research
articles to use in this assessment.
Using the two articles you found, include the following in your
assessment. Provide the APA citation for each article.
•

7. Describe the data collection methods used in the studies you
selected.
•
Describe the designs used in the studies.
•
Explain the arguments the authors make to support their
positions.
•
Explain the findings of the research.
•
How might you apply these findings to better understand your
own relationships with others?
Your submitted assessment should be 3–4 pages in length
excluding title page and reference page. Be sure to follow APA
guidelines for format and style. You do not need to use
resources other than the two articles you selected, but you may
if you wish.
Additional Requirements
•
Include a title page and reference page.
•
At least two current scholarly or professional resources.
•
APA format.
•
Times New Roman font, 12 point.
•

8. Double spaced.