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.