Social Interactions

Humans are social beings, and the underpinnings of social behavior—although, externally, they may seem rather simple—are amazingly complex. The changing nature of social interaction is important for understanding the mechanisms and processes through which people interact with one another, both individually and within groups. A variety of factors―environment, culture, and biology―affect how we present ourselves to others and how we treat them. For example, perceptions of prejudice and stereotypes can lead to acts of discrimination, whereas positive attitudes about others can lead to the provision of help and social support. To better understand social interaction, it is important to grasp the mechanisms of self-presentation and social interaction, including expressing and detecting emotion, impression management, communication, the biological underpinnings of social behavior, and discrimination, all of which are covered in this course.