12 Flashcards
Sternberg’s Triangular Theory Elements
Intimacy
Passion
Commitment
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Intimacy - Sternberg
closeness, connectedness, bondedness
“I feel really close to this person”
Passion - Sternberg
romance, attraction, sexual consummation
“I’m crazy about this person”
Commitment - Sternberg
decision to stay in relationship
“I really want to stay with this person”
Laws of Attraction
Proximity -> Laws of probability -> Mere exposure/familiarity Similarity ->“Birds of a feather” vs. “opposites attract” Reciprocity Physical attractiveness
Physical Attractiveness
Disclaimer: Personality and other “invisible” qualities play a huge role, especially when assessing long-term partner potential But… we really are superficial ► Baby preferences ► Mother preferences ► Teacher preferences ► Popularity ► Crime ► Love & attraction
Physical Attractiveness - Universal Agreements
- Facial symmetry
- Hourglass women
- Triangular (V) men
Evolutionary Perspective
WOMEN
Reproduction is costly
Restricted number of offspring
Maternal certainty
MEN
Reproduction is easy
Large number of offspring possible
Paternal uncertainty
Evolutionary Perspectives - Implications
What women want
► Care about personality, status, & resources more
► Choosier about how to partner with
► Seek someone who will stick around
What men want
► Care about youth & attractiveness more
► No pressure to be choosy
► Desire many partners
► Seek fertile people to bear children for them
Partner Preferences La Cerra (1994)
Attractiveness ratings of photos of identical men & women engaged in various activities
► Male participants rated female photos
► Female participants rated male photos
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3 Q Study - Clark and Hatfield
Attractive men & women (confederates) approached members of the opposite sex and said:
I’ve seen you around campus and I find you attractive. Would you…
… go out with me tonight? … come over to my apartment tonight? … go to bed with me tonight?
Evolutionary Critiques
Alternative explanations
► Social learning of gender roles
Evolutionary explanations can be problematic
Evolutionary explanations do not account for some phenomena:
► Extramarital affairs among females
► Choice to limit family size/remain childless in Western societies
► Homosexuality
Havelock Ellis
► Transgenderism
► Homosexuality
► Autoeroticism
Sigmund Freud
► Psychosexual development
► Libido
Alfred Kinsey
► Sexuality on continuum
► Extramarital sex not uncommon
► People more sexually adventurous than expected
► Masturbation not psychologically or physically damaging
William Masters and Virginia Johnson
- Actually observed men & women having sex
- Studied psychology and physiology of sex
Notable contributions:
► Sexual Response Cycle (1966)
► Documented sex mechanisms (e.g. lubrication), physiological orgasmic responses
► Debunked common myths at the time
Sexual Response Cycle
- excitement
- plateau
- orgasm
- resolution
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Benefits of Sex
Sexual satisfaction linked to: ► Relationship satisfaction ► Love & commitment ► Physical health ► Psychological health Kisses & cuddles matter too, especially for men! (Heiman, 2011)
