Psychology of Popularity

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

About this Course

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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.

Learner Career Outcomes

33%

started a new career after completing these courses

38%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

14%

got a pay increase or promotion

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 8 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish, Chinese

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.84/5 (109 Ratings)

Dr. Mitch Prinstein

John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, and Author of Popular: Finding Happiness and Success in a World That Cares Too Much About the Wrong Kinds of Relationships

UNC Department of Psychology and Neuroscience

55,881 Learners

1 Course

Learner Career Outcomes

33%

started a new career after completing these courses

38%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

14%

got a pay increase or promotion

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 8 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish, Chinese

Offered by

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.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating95%(4,051 ratings)

Week

Week 1

2 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.

2 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 55 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

5 videos

Introduction to Popularity11m

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 Quiz30m

Week

Week 2

1 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

1 hour to complete

5 videos (Total 40 min)

5 videos

Who Can Accurately Tell You About a Child’s Popularity?12m

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 30m

Week

Week 3

1 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

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 36 min)

4 videos

What Social Behaviors Make People Popular so Quickly?10m

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 Quiz30m

Week

Week 4

1 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

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 53 min)

4 videos

Why is Facial Attractiveness so Strongly Related to Popularity Among Youth?13m

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 Quiz30m

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Psychology of Popularity