12

Question 1

Sternberg’s Triangular Theory Elements

Answer 1

Intimacy
Passion
Commitment
*look up image

Question 2

Intimacy - Sternberg

Answer 2

closeness, connectedness, bondedness

“I feel really close to this person”

Question 3

Passion - Sternberg

Answer 3

romance, attraction, sexual consummation

“I’m crazy about this person”

Question 4

Commitment - Sternberg

Answer 4

decision to stay in relationship

“I really want to stay with this person”

Question 5

Laws of Attraction

Answer 5

Proximity
-> Laws of probability
-> Mere exposure/familiarity
Similarity
->“Birds of a feather” vs. “opposites attract”
Reciprocity
Physical attractiveness

Question 6

Physical Attractiveness

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Physical Attractiveness - Universal Agreements

Answer 7

• Facial symmetry
• Hourglass women
• Triangular (V) men

Question 8

Evolutionary Perspective

Answer 8

WOMEN
Reproduction is costly
Restricted number of offspring
Maternal certainty

MEN
Reproduction is easy
Large number of offspring possible
Paternal uncertainty

Question 9

Evolutionary Perspectives - Implications

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Partner Preferences La Cerra (1994)

Answer 10

Attractiveness ratings of photos of identical men & women engaged in various activities
► Male participants rated female photos
► Female participants rated male photos
*look up image

Question 11

3 Q Study - Clark and Hatfield

Answer 11

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?

Question 12

Evolutionary Critiques

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Havelock Ellis

Answer 13

► Transgenderism
► Homosexuality
► Autoeroticism

Question 14

Sigmund Freud

Answer 14

► Psychosexual development

► Libido

Question 15

Alfred Kinsey

Answer 15

► Sexuality on continuum
► Extramarital sex not uncommon
► People more sexually adventurous than expected
► Masturbation not psychologically or physically damaging

Question 16

William Masters and Virginia Johnson

Answer 16

• 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

Question 17

Sexual Response Cycle

Answer 17

• excitement
• plateau
• orgasm
• resolution
• look up image

Question 18

Benefits of Sex

Answer 18

Sexual satisfaction linked to:
► Relationship satisfaction
► Love & commitment
► Physical health
► Psychological health
Kisses & cuddles matter too, especially for men! (Heiman, 2011)