Get an introduction to romantic relationships, considering the types of relationship and the early stages of relationships. Build a foundational knowledge of romantic relationships and how they start. Why and how do we choose a romantic partner, or partners? What challenges are faced in the early stages of a romantic relationship? What types of romantic relationship are there? Get answers with the first course in a series exploring romantic relationships.
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You’ll learn about the types of romantic relationships people have around the world (including monogamy and polyamory), and understand how people make choices when they enter a relationship. You will explore research on attraction and mate selection, and consider processes and challenges in the early stages of relationships.
What topics will you cover?
- Types of relationships from around the world, including monogamy, consensual non-monogamy (e.g., polygamy, polyamory), same-sex and different sex relationships, friends with benefits, “love” versus arranged marriages, and married versus unmarried committed relationships.
- Deciding on the kind of relationship you want: pros and cons of singlehood, how relationship beliefs shape our goals, perceptions, and thoughts about relationships, balancing personal goals with cultural/social/family expectations.
- The types of factors that influence attraction and where to meet partners: physical characteristics, personality, relationship goals and values.
- Early relationship milestones and challenges: moving from initial attraction to dating to commitment, assessing compatibility with personal goals.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...
- Identify different types of relationships that individuals have around the world.
- Explore factors associated with the decision to enter a relationship, such as personal goals and social expectations.
- Describe attractive. Students will learn what is considered “attractive” and how these perceptions vary (or not) across cultures.
- Investigate in detail the theories and research about dating and early relationship milestones (e.g., sexual initiation).
