Assessment

Length: 1500 words

Context: Baumeister and Leary (1995) argued that we have a fundamental motivation to form and maintain positive relationships.

So fundamental is the need to belong that deprivation of belongingness is associated with undesirable psychological consequences such
as the experience of loneliness.

Since the publication of Baumeister and  Leary's (1995) seminal paper, we have seen the proliferation of smartphones and online social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Online social networking offers an unprecedented opportunity to easily connect with many others, and so might satisfy belongingness needs and reduce loneliness. But perhaps online relationships are an inadequate substitute for the real thing.

Essay Question: Critically evaluate the statement that ‘using online social networking sites reduces loneliness.'

Starter References

Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 497-529.

Sheldon, K. M., Abad, N., Hinsch, C. (2011). A two-process view of Facebook use and relatedness need-satisfaction: Disconnection drives use, and connection rewards it.

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 100, 766-775.