Lecture 9: Social relationships and well-being Flashcards
How does social comparison influence well-being?
Depends on the type of social comparison (upward or downward)
Depends on the frequency of social comparisons
What is upward comparison?
can reduce happiness if increases NA (ex. focus on best self)
can increase happiness if we are inspired (ex. focus on usual self
What is downward comparison?
can increase happiness
can reduce happiness if we identify with target of comparison
Is frequent social comparison related to positive affect?
Fujita
It is unrelated to PA but positively related to NA
what are the general findings for social relationships and well-being?
Social relationships are an anecedent and outcome of well-being
People are happier when they’re around other people
They tend to express more PA when with others (especially with close people)
People with close relationships cope better with stress, lower prevalence of depression
social relationships can act as a buffer to major life stress
what are the general findings for social relationships and well-being in terms of social relationships?
Social isolation and loneliness negatively associated with wll-being
social relationships associatd with a 50% increased likelihood of survival
Higher power strivings to detriment of social relationships negatively related to well-being
what are the general findings for social relationships and well-being for happy people?
Happy people are more likely to have friends
Happy people are more likely to get married, stay married and be happy in marriage
Happy people are more likely to have closer and more supportive social relationships
happy people more likely to provide and recieve support
Can people we have weak ties with influence our well-being?
Sandstrom and Dunn
Yes, undergrads were happier in class when they interacted with classmates (Even the ones with weaker-ties)
Study has been replicated
Can social relationships be detrimental to well-being?
Yes social relationships with conflict, poor quality, or abuse lower well-being
Relationship dissolution reduces well-being
What was the Harvard study (longitundinal)?
Followed the same people from when they were children to when they were old (if they were still living)
1 Group of students who were chosen as the brightest group of ppl and group 2 were people from a low neighborhood, their families were known for lower well-being, troublesome
Were all white male
studied their work like, social relationships, mental & physical health, their retirement lives, talked to their wives
The people who stayed the happiest and healthiest were people were more connected with other people, (socialized with more people, and had secure relationships)
What is the main effects model?
Social relationships provide direct benefits to well-being through influences that are not explicitly intended as help or support (ex. Conforming to health-promoting norms, meaning in life, self-esteem, satisfying needs)
What is the stress buffering model?
Social relationships provide resources (ex. Informational, emotional, tangible) that promote adaptive behavioural (or biological) responses to stressors (can provide us with advice for various things in life)
Thus, social relationships help protect us from the negative effects of stressors
What is the Feeny Collin’s social support model?
Predicts there will be long lasting benefits
what does the social support model (feeny and collin) say for in times of adversity?
In times of adversity, social relationships become a surce of strength support
- help protect u from negative effects of stressors
- Help us to flourish (thrive) by:
1. Providing a safe haven
2. Providing fortification
3. Assisting in reconstruction process
4. Assisting in reframing/redefining adversity
what does the social support model (feeny and collin) say for in times of opportunity?
Social relationships become a relational catalyst
Provide opportunities for us to explore, grow & develop by:
- Nurturing a desire to create or seize opportunities for growth (have a job but u want to go back to schl)
- Providing perceptual help in viewing life opportunities
- Facilitating preparation for engagement in life opportunities
- Facilitating implementation by serving a launching function (providing the additional encouragement)
