02_Interpersonal Relationships Flashcards
Affiliation definition
Innate motive that contributes to the initiation and maintenance of interpersonal relationships
3 factors that may drive Affiliation
Anxiety
Arousability
Gender
Affiliation & Anxiety (Schacter)
In anxiety-arousing conditions, social comparison is a more potent cause of affiliation than relief from discomfort
Research study:
When highly anxious individuals were given the choice to wait alone or with non-anxious individuals, they chose to wait alone
“Misery loves miserable company”
Affiliation & Arousability
ANS arousal by external stimuli (presence of others) affects the desire to affiliate
Differential impact of Arousability on Affiliation:
Introverts vs Extroverts
Introvert = high arousability
Avoids affiliating with others to keep their arousal from reaching an uncomfortable level
Extrovert = low arousablity
Seeks affiliation to stimulate arousal to an optimal level
Affiliation & Arousability:
Gender Differences in Affiliation
Women = more likely to engage in conversation, talk to people of the same sex, and affiliate in public places
“Tend and Befriend”
Affiliation:
Characteristics of Female Friendships
More close friends
More Verbal communication and self-disclosure
More same-sex emotionally intimate relationships
Affiliation:
Characteristics Of Male Friendships
Friendships develop from shared activities
Greater tolerance for same-sex peers
Longer friendships
Attraction is a special type of affiliation that is affected by three main factors…
Competence
Similarity
Reciprocity
Attraction:
Competence
We tend to like competent and intelligent people more
*Especially when they occasionally make small mistakes
Attraction:
Similarity
We are generally more attracted to people who are similar to ourselves
Attraction:
Reciprocity
We like others who like us
+
Dislike those who dislike us
Attraction:
Gain-Loss Effect
Attraction is maximized by if a person’s evaluation is initially negative but then comes positive
Evolutionary Psychology Theory of Attraction
Gender differences in reproductive strategies influence differences in attraction
Men = physical attractiveness (health and fertility)
Women = status and resources
(parental investment)
Sexual Jealousy
Gender differences
Men = elicited primarily by sexual infidelity
Women = emotional infidelity
Emotion-in-Relationship Model
Emotion is generated when expectations of partner are violated
Positive emotions are more intense in the initial stages of a relationship = still surprising / unexpected
Social Exchange Theory
Staying in a relationship depends on its cost and rewards
*More predictive of relationships with strangers, acquaintances, and business associates than with family members and close friends
Equity Theory
Perception of fairness in a relationship is more important than the absolute magnitude of the inputs and outcomes
- same as I/O equity with salary
Person Perception
2 relevant aspects of Personhood
Identifiability (differentiability)
Personality: clear internal consistency of identity
Which character trait is significant in person perception, and most pronounced for social roles, contexts of greater importance, and intimacy?
Warmth
Drawbacks of Online Communication
Absence of nonverbal cues
Lack of warmth
Less demand for engagement
Impersonality
Shallow interactions
Difficulty building social support
Law of Attraction
Like attracts Like
Interacting with someone with similar attitudes is more likely to generate positive affect
Attraction:
Factors that Increase Likelihood of Gain-Loss Effect
Gradual change of opinion
Change in opinion reflects a true change of heart
