Additional Topic: Social Relationships
Cover the complete Social Relationships option across romantic, virtual and parasocial relationships.
How to study Higher Psychology
Build each answer from accurate psychological knowledge, named evidence, application to behaviour, analysis and justified evaluation.
Core concepts
Concept 1
evolutionary, filter, social exchange and investment theories
Exam cue: Identify what each theory predicts about attraction, maintenance or breakdown.
Concept 2
gating in virtual relationships
Exam cue: Distinguish fewer social cues from strategically enhanced online presentation.
Concept 3
reduced cues and hyperpersonal theories
Exam cue: Apply parasocial theories without diagnosing a person from limited behaviour.
Concept 4
levels of parasocial relationships
Concept 5
absorption–addiction and attachment theories
Concept 6
research evidence for romantic and virtual relationships
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Treating every online relationship as lacking meaningful cues.
Guardrail: Avoid deterministic claims, unsupported causation and generic evaluation disconnected from the named evidence.
Confusing social exchange rewards with financial exchange.
Guardrail: Avoid deterministic claims, unsupported causation and generic evaluation disconnected from the named evidence.
Assuming parasocial attachment is necessarily pathological.
Guardrail: Avoid deterministic claims, unsupported causation and generic evaluation disconnected from the named evidence.
Memory anchors
Filter theory
Potential partners are narrowed through social, demographic and attitudinal filters.
Social exchange
Relationship choices are explained through perceived rewards, costs and comparison levels.
Investment theory
Commitment reflects satisfaction, alternatives and invested resources.
Reduced cues theory
Fewer non-verbal and social cues can alter communication in online interaction.
Hyperpersonal theory
Selective presentation and idealisation can make online interaction unusually intense.
Parasocial relationship
A one-sided perceived relationship with a media figure, explained through levels, absorption–addiction or attachment.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
What does an evolutionary account of romantic relationships emphasise?
Why should evolutionary relationship claims avoid biological determinism?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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