The level of popularity you experienced in childhood and adolescence is still affecting you today in ways that you may not even realize. Learn about how psychologists study popularity and how these same concepts can be used in adulthood to be more successful at work, become better parents, and have a happier life.
Psychology of Popularity
Offered By
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
12 hours to complete
How is Popularity Affecting Your Life as an Adult?
We will review how popularity is changing your social information processing and DNA expression.
5 videos (Total 55 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
5 videos
Is Popularity in Our DNA?13m
How Popularity Affects Us Thousands of Times a Day15m
Do You Have a Hostile Attribution Bias?9m
Do You Have a Rejection Sensitivity Bias?6m
2 readings
Syllabus10m
Grading and Logistics10m
1 practice exercise
Module 1 Quiz20m
Week
21 hour to complete
How Do We Study Popularity Scientifically?
We will discuss the ways that we have identified different subgroups of kids and adults who have
different popularity profiles.
5 videos (Total 40 min), 1 quiz
5 videos
Asking Peers About Children’s Popularity6m
What are the 5 Categories of “Sociometric Popularity”?7m
Does Popularity Change When Moving to a New Context?5m
A New Form of Popularity in Adolescence?9m
1 practice exercise
Module 2 Quiz 20m
Week
31 hour to complete
Why are Some People More Popular Than Others? (Part 1)
We will discuss what behaviors popular people engage in, and what types of specific behaviors make
people unpopular almost immediately. Implications for adult relationships will be discussed.
4 videos (Total 36 min), 1 quiz
4 videos
Other Social Behaviors That Make People Popular7m
What Forms of Aggression are Related to Popularity and Rejection?6m
What Functions of Aggression are Related to Popularity and Rejection? 11m
1 practice exercise
Module 3 Quiz18m
Week
41 hour to complete
Why are Some People More Popular Than Others? (Part 2)
We will review why facial and body attractiveness plays a role in popularity and how parents can make
their children more popular.
4 videos (Total 53 min), 1 quiz
4 videos
Body Attractiveness and Popularity11m
Can Smart Kids be Popular?13m
How Did Your Parents Determine How Popular You Were?14m
1 practice exercise
Module 4 Quiz18m
4.6
119 Reviews20%
started a new career after completing these courses
33%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
17%
got a pay increase or promotion
Top Reviews
This course has been absolutely terrific! The knowledge and insight this has briefed me with has been very useful, and makes more than a lot of sense. Thank You Mr. Prinstein, and Thank You Coursera!
This was amazing, really interesting, well presented. A good insight into how our friendships while of school age can impact on our adulthood and how this is so often repeated down the generations.
Instructor
Dr. Mitch Prinstein
John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, and Author of Popular: The Power of Likeability in a Status-Obsessed WorldUNC Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
About The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the nation’s first public university, is known around the world for innovative teaching and research. Regularly ranked as the nation’s best value for academic quality, UNC has produced the most Rhodes Scholars for the past 25 years among U.S. public research universities.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
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