1. Social Health

2. In This Chapter, Learn About Relationships
Communication
Improve skills
Understand differences
Attributes of relationships
Health benefits
Science of love
Long-term relationship characteristics
Online social networks

3. Create Close Ties With Other People
Supportive relationships protect people from stress, distress and disease

4. Your Social Network Affects Your Health
Social Contagion
Process in which friends, friends of friends, acquaintances and social circle affect health
Is it real?
Health factors change in clusters
Obesity in one person made friends 57% more likely to become obese
Smoking in one person made friends 35% more likely to start smoking

5. Two Skills That Will Improve Communication
1. Learn to Listen
Try to understand feelings and motivation
Ask questions when you don’t understand
Prompt person to continue talking
2. Be Agreeable, but Assertive
Make needs and desires clear
Use non-provocative words 5

6. Men And Women Communicate Differently
Talk to demonstrate superiority
Interrupt to get information
s are brief and utilitarian
Online conversations more likely to include strong assertions, sarcasm and disagreement with others 6

7. Men And Women Communicate Differently
Talk to draw people closer
Likely to wait rather than interrupt
Writing uses more words related to emotion
s are written similar to spoken word to build connection with audience

8. Men & Women Communicate Differently
Empathy vs. Sympathy: what’s the difference?
It’s Not About the Nail!!
A Tale of Two Brains

9. Online Sites Have Increased Social Networks
Pros
Keep in touch with acquaintances
Support from acquaintances is meaningful
Maintain relationships, make new friend
Cons
Private events become public
Can be used to humiliate, bully, harass or stalk
Takes time and attention away from other responsibilities 9

10. Psychological View Of Love
6 Types Of Love
3 Components Of Love
Liking
Infatuation
Romantic Love
Compassionate Love
Fatuous Love
Consummate Love 10

11. Anthropological View Of Love
A near universal experience for all cultures
Primitive, basic human emotion
Historically, it pulled people together for child-rearing
Four-year ‘itch’ is present across cultures 11

12. Biochemical View Of Love
Love causes changes in the brain
Causes release of stimulants: Dopamine, norepinephrine, phenylethylamine
After initial infatuation, love causes release of endorphins
Endorphins and stimulants create the physical symptoms of love and the feelings of well-being, security and tranquility of longer-lasting relationships 12

13. Dysfunctional Relationships Harm Health
Does not promote healthy communication, honesty and intimacy
Physical Symptoms
Headaches
Digestive Trouble
Difficulty Sleeping
It takes a lot of time and energy to change a dysfunctional relationship 13

14. Beware Of Abuse In Relationships
Behavior to control another person
- fear, humiliation, verbal or
physical assault
Emotional Abuse
Constant berating, belittling or criticism
Wears away at trust, self-worth and belief in self
Reach out to your friends and family for help if you think you are in an abusive relationship 14

15. Codependency
Defined
Behavior learned by family members to survive great pain and stress of their loved one’s addiction or illness
Treatment
Individual and group therapy
Education
Codependents Anonymous 15

16. Transitioning To Adulthood
Successful Transition Includes: 
Completing school
Establishing independent household
Being employed full-time
Marriage and children (possibly) 16

17. Cohabitation Has Become More Common
Reasons couples decide to live together: 
Economic
Social acceptance of cohabitation
More time together
‘Test’ relationship
Alternative to marriage

18. Same-Sex Couples Relationship follows familiar stages
Intense passion and romantic love
Starting home together
Building trust and dependability
Establishing strong partnership
Experience more social isolation
Use more affection and humor during disagreements

19. Marriage Brings Benefits And Challenges
Better physical and mental health
Longer life
Less disease and common illnesses
Challenges
Requires preparation
Common challenges require effort
money, sex and careers
Divorce rate remains 50%

20. Common Issues In Long-Term Relationships
Money
Sex
Extramarital Affairs
Two-Career Couples
Conflict

21. Suggestions For Relationship Success
Focus on friendship
Remember the beginning
Show respect
Compliment your partner
Forgive one another
Keep positive interactions more frequent than negative interactions