CERTAINTY THROUGH SOCIAL CONNECTION? PROTECTING THE SELF IN AN UNCERTAIN SOCIAL WORLD

This chapter broadly examines how individuals sustain social connection when they encounter reasons to feel uncertain about the safety of depending on others. It specifically reviews the pivotal role that romantic relationships play in creating and resolving uncertainty. For instance, as a source of uncertainty, being surprised or taken aback by the behavior of romantic partners can motivate individuals to find greater safety in the sociopolitical relationships they share with others, perhaps seeing public health officials as especially wise or a President as an especially adept caregiver of the nation. As an antidote to uncertainty, however, questioning the wisdom or being taken aback by the behavior of the collective can motivate individuals to impose greater safety on the personal relationships they share with others, seeing family members as especially nurturant and friends and family as especially welcoming. Indeed, this chapter will review evidence that affirming the safety of social connection through romantic relationships can provide an all-purpose antidote against uncertainty about one’s place in the social world, whether that uncertainty comes from the physical or social risks others might pose to the self.