Social Interactions

Abstract

Few aspects of our lives are as pervasive or as important to us as our interpersonal relationships. We consistently put our relationships with friends, family members, and romantic partners at or near the top of the list of what is most important in our lives and what makes us happy (Argyle, 1987). Since as far back as any of us can remember, interactions with others have played such a central role in our daily lives that an absence of social contact for an extended period of time is considered unusual, if not abnormal. Shyness and loneliness are problems that may require professional intervention. Psychologists often consider a reduction in social interaction a sign of depression or some other psychological disorder. People who prefer excessive amounts of time to themselves are objects of curiosity.