Delhi University Launches New Course Decoding Intimate Relationships, Heartbreak, Dating Apps and Red Flags — Details Inside
Delhi University Launches New Course Decoding Intimate Relationships, Heartbreak, Dating Apps and Red Flags — Details Inside
DU’s latest elective aims to build emotional intelligence in the era of dating apps and toxic relationships
Delhi University has introduced a new undergraduate course designed to help students better understand modern relationships, emotional dynamics, and red flags in romantic and platonic connections. Administered by the Department of Psychology, this elective course is a response to growing concerns over emotional distress, toxic relationships, and interpersonal violence among young adults, especially in the age of dating apps and social media.
The course has been launched amid increasing reports of emotional instability and rising crime among teenagers, often linked to failed or manipulative relationships. According to university officials, the initiative aims to foster emotional resilience and awareness in students through structured academic engagement, bridging the gap between psychological theory and real-life interpersonal challenges.
Course Structure and Themes
This four-credit elective spans four core units:
- Psychology of Friendships and Bonds: Understanding how close interpersonal ties are formed and maintained.
- Theories of Love and Sexuality: Exploring models like Robert Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love and the Two-Factor Theory of emotion.
- Recognising Red Flags: Identifying early warning signs in relationships such as jealousy, emotional manipulation, and intimate partner violence.
- Building Healthy Relationships: Developing strategies for cultivating respectful, fulfilling, and lasting bonds.
Students will attend three lectures and one tutorial per week. While there’s no practical component, tutorials include interactive elements such as breakup scenario analysis, dating culture debates, and social media behaviour reviews.
Pop Culture Meets Psychology
The course will also incorporate critical reviews of films such as Kabir Singh and Titanic to deconstruct portrayals of love, obsession, and conflict in media. Students will engage in activities such as using Sternberg’s love scale to evaluate romantic feelings and participate in boundary-setting exercises and group discussions.
Emotional Intelligence in the Classroom
The university sees this initiative as a timely intervention to equip students with psychological tools for navigating intimate relationships in a fast-changing digital age. By the end of the course, students are expected to analyse emotional triggers, understand the roots of relational conflict, and apply theoretical insights to real-world scenarios.
Only students who have completed their Class 12 exams are eligible to enrol in this course.
The launch reflects a growing academic recognition that emotional well-being and interpersonal awareness are as critical as academic excellence in preparing students for adult life.
