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The recent exponential increase in information available online has not only increased access to information about celebrities, but also decreased the degree to which that information is unambiguously positive. In the current work, we examined how positive celebrities (i.e. celebrities who are primarily admired) versus more ambiguous celebrities (i.e. celebrities about whom people have mixed feelings) differentially affect feelings about the self. Across three studies, we found that high attachment anxiety was associated with assimilating positive celebrities to feel better about the self, whereas attachment avoidance was associated with contrasting ambivalent celebrities to feel better to feel better about the self. Implications for parasocial relationships, social comparison, and attachment are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Belongingness needs have generally been thought to be filled through traditional strategies, but recent research suggests that nontraditional strategies (e.g., parasocial relationship partners, TV shows) may work as well. No work has yet examined the comparative importance of these different social behaviors in contributing to social need fulfillment. The current work utilized a visual measure to assess frequency, variety, and degree of contribution to social fulfillment of 17 social behaviors. Overall, the conceptualization of the need to belong as flexible and able to be satisfied by a variety of social behaviors was supported; both traditional and nontraditional social strategies were related to positive outcomes. Results suggest that nontraditional strategies may contribute an added layer of vibrancy to our social lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stories may provide a useful way of communicating about health and promoting engagement for health promotion campaigns. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of a particular type of narrative, restorative narratives (stories that highlight hope and resilience), relative to negative narratives (stories that focus on suffering or challenges). We also tested the effect of labeling the story as fact or fiction. The results suggested that restorative narratives may foster greater prosocial behavior than negative narratives and effectiveness does not differ depending on whether a story is labeled as "factual" or "fictional." Our findings offer encouraging implications for future promotional efforts by health organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hypothesis that music is well suited to facilitate social bonding (Savage et al., target article) is highly consistent with social psychological research on the need to belong. We explore how music is uniquely placed to increase feelings of connections to large collectives by increasing collective effervescence, providing narratives, reminding one of others, and providing social surrogates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19-related social distancing guidelines pose challenges that may be particularly distressing for those high in extroversion, who tend to experience greater happiness when in social situations (Costa & McCrae, 1980; Emmons & Diener, 1985). Our research sought to examine if extroversion was related to greater use of COVID-19-compliant, nontraditional social strategies (e.g. collective effervescent experiences, social surrogate use, and video-chatting) when social options were limited. We examined residents of New York State before the start of the pandemic, during the peak of the pandemic, and one year after the peak of the pandemic. Using a variety of analytical strategies, we found that extroversion was associated with greater use of nontraditional social strategies during the pandemic, and that use of some of these strategies partly explained a relationship between extroversion and maintaining happiness during the pandemic. Furthermore, extroversion was associated with greater use of some of these strategies only when traditional social opportunities were limited. These findings suggest that extroverts are likely to seek out and utilize unorthodox forms of connection to maintain wellbeing, particularly when other social options are unavailable. This work makes novel contributions to our understanding of extroversion and the flexibility of the need to belong. • Extroverts used more socially distanced social strategies during COVID-19. • More collective effervescent events predicted happiness during COVID-19. • Using parasocial relationships and narratives predicted happiness during COVID-19. • Using some social strategies mediated extroversion and happiness during COVID-19. • Extroverts used parasocial relationships and narratives more when social distancing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research examines the hypothesis that collective effervescence – the sense of connection and meaning that comes from collective events – is not just useful for understanding rare, unusual, and intense collective events, but also as a framework for understanding how seemingly insignificant and/or common collective gatherings (i.e. 'everyday events') may give meaning, a sense of connection, and joy to life. We found evidence for our hypothesis across nine different studies utilizing eleven datasets and over 2500 participants. The first three studies found that collective effervescence is best understood as a combination of feeling connected to others and a sensation of sacredness. The next four studies found that collective effervescence is found in common, everyday kinds of events and that it is related to various aspects of enjoying group activities. The last two studies found that collective effervescent experiences are common; three quarters of people experience collective effervescence at least once a week and a third experience them every day. Moreover, commonly experiencing collective effervescence predicts wellbeing above and beyond the effects of other kinds of social connection. Results are discussed in terms of the human need for social connection and the importance of groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial conflicts are among the top reasons for dissatisfaction and dissolution in romantic relationships. Beyond economic strain, however, few studies have examined the psychological antecedents of financial conflicts that contribute to relationship satisfaction. The present research examined whether basing one's self-esteem on financial success was associated with greater perceived financial conflicts with one's partner and worse relationship outcomes. A cross-sectional study (N = 167), dyadic study (N = 193 couples), and a 6-week diary study (N = 74 couples) revealed that participants with financially contingent self-worth reported having more financial conflicts with their partner, which was associated with lower relationship satisfaction and perceived partner support. In a final experiment (N = 337), participants who were led to expect many (vs. few) benefits of financial success based their current self-worth more on money, showed greater conflict responses to financial scenarios involving their partner, and reported lower relationship satisfaction and perceived partner support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media use is an increasingly prevalent part of modern life and allows for a wide variety of ways to engage with others. The current research examines how chronic social goal orientations relate to social media use and to individuals' sense of connection with others while using social media. Utilizing social achievement goal theory, we hypothesized that social goal orientations would predict 1) the likelihood of engaging with a larger audience on social media, 2) whether social media was used in a relatively active, deep, and interactive manner, and 3) the degree to which social media involvement leads to a feeling of social connection. Results of two studies supported our hypotheses and suggested that social development, social demonstration-approach, and social demonstration-avoid goals relate to different kinds of social media behavior and different perceptions of social connection in relation to their social media use. Findings suggest that social media provide a variety of ways for individuals to attain a sense of social competency and connection that are consistent with their underlying goal orientations. • Social achievement goals relate to engaging with many others on social media. • Social achievement goals relate to active posting and deep social media use. • Social achievement goals relate to a sense of connection when using social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We argue that imaginary worlds gain much of their appeal because they fulfill the fundamental need of human beings to feel connected to other humans. Immersion into story worlds provides a sense of social connection to the characters and groups represented in the world. By fulfilling the need to belong, imaginary worlds provide a buffer against rejection and loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]