Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
In psychology, relationship refers to how two or more variables are connected, associated, or interact with each other. It involves examining patterns, connections, and influences between different factors.
Correlation refers to a statistical measure indicating how closely related two variables are without implying causation. It assesses whether changes in one variable are systematically associated with changes in another.
Positive Relationship: A positive relationship describes a situation where both variables increase together or decrease together. When one goes up, so does the other; when one goes down, so does the other.
Negative Relationship: A negative relationship describes a situation where one variable increases while the other decreases, and vice versa. When one goes up, the other goes down.