1.4.1 Cognitive explanation for relationship formation Flashcards
How can schemas be applied to relationship formation
The packets of knowledge we have about other people (our schema) may govern how we feel and act towards people
What did Dion et al find about schemas and relationship formation
- Demonstrated that people believe that physically attractive people also have attractive personal qualities
What is the effect Dion et al found called
Halo effect
Explain the Halo effect
If we percieve a person to be physically attractive, we may also think of them having good qualities (kind, caring etc) and we may become interested in forming a relationship with them
What are self-schemas
Refer to how we feel about ourselves and these are important in relationship formation
How can internal mental processes be related to relationship formation
- Essential in perception and self perception
- Self-perception is the beliefs we have about ourselves and perception is the view we have of others
- The way we believe others to be determines whether we desire to enter a relationship with them
Give an example of how Internal mental processes are involved in relationship formation
If you start talking to a stranger at a party, your perceptions, based on first impressions of them, will influence whether you want to be in there company again
How is memory an important internal mental process in relationship formation
- If we have positive memories of past relationships we may be driven in forming new ones.
- However if our memories are negative and we remember being hurt, we may be very reluctant to form new relationships even with people who we like
What is the matching hypothesis
- An explanation for relationship formation
- According to the matching hypothesis, how we percieve ourselves in terms of physical attractivness will influence who we want to engage in relationships with
- Attracted to those who we feel match us in terms of physical attraction
