The need to belong

 

 

 

 

 

 

Human beings have an innate need to belong. To belong, people must establish and maintain a minimum quantity of enduring relationships. Imagine you are on a team of amateur entrepreneurs developing a new product. A television producer has invited you to pitch your idea in front of a group of investors on an exciting, competitive game show. The winning team will receive a prize of investment capital and a chance to make a real change in people’s lives.

 

Outline what the product or service is and how it can help society.
Summarize the overall goal of the product or service.
Describe the characteristics of your target audience demographic.
Create a vision in the investors’ minds so they can imagine the services provided and the user experience.
Discuss how you can sell this product through the power of one’s needs to belong.
Determine whether your product creates any social dilemmas.
Differentiate your product using what you know about how people interact and socially engage (pro proximity, mere exposure effect, evolution, attraction, need to belong).
Illustrate the connection between your idea and social psychology concepts and theories.
Include additional concepts learned throughout the course.

 

The need to belong

 

 

 

Reflect on how the need to belong has influenced your life.
What does it mean to “belong”?
What makes you belong?
How are we connected?
Reflect on something that you are a member of.
Who and what determines membership of your group? Who is outside our community?
How are people identified as inside or outside of the group?
What benefits do you have because of belonging to this group?
How do those benefits compare to the value or those outside the group?

The Need To Belong

Human beings have an innate need to belong. To belong, people must establish and maintain a minimum quantity of enduring relationships. Imagine you are on a team of amateur entrepreneurs developing a new product. A television producer has invited you to pitch your idea in front of a group of investors on an exciting, competitive game show. The winning team will receive a prize of investment capital and a chance to make a real change in people’s lives.
Outline what the product or service is and how it can help society.
Summarize the overall goal of the product or service.
Describe the characteristics of your target audience demographic.
Create a vision in the investors’ minds so they can imagine the services provided and the user experience.
Discuss how you can sell this product through the power of one’s needs to belong.
Determine whether your product creates any social dilemmas.
Differentiate your product using what you know about how people interact and socially engage (pro proximity, mere exposure effect, evolution, attraction, need to belong).
Illustrate the connection between your idea and social psychology concepts and theories.
Include additional concepts learned throughout the course.