Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psychology - RMC - Relationships > 2 - Factors Affecting Attraction > Flashcards

2 - Factors Affecting Attraction Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Conversation Starters flashcards AP® Psychology flashcards Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

What are the three factors affecting attractiveness we have to learn about?

A
  • Self disclosure
  • Physical attractiveness (including halo theory + matching hypothesis)
  • Filter theory
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Define self-disclosure

A

Revealing personal info about yourself. Romantic partners reveal more about their true selves as their relationship develops, increasing intimacy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is social penetration theory?

A

Theory that we gradually reveal our inner self to someone else (gradually self-disclose) from revealing insignificant info to deep feelings and desires

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Should self-disclosure be reciprocal? Why?

A

Yes

  • Self-disclosing deep personal info implies you trust your partner
  • When there is a balance of this, there is mutual trust, building intimacy
  • If one person shares more, there may be a breakdown of trust as one person is more invested in the relationship than the other
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Who introduced the theory that self-disclosure should be reciprocal?

A

Reis + Shaver

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the two elements of self-disclosure + who proposed them?

A

Breadth + depth

Proposed by: Altman + Taylor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Outline the ‘breadth’ of self-disclosure

A

Start of relationship: we reveal a narrow breadth of info (many topics ‘off limits/TMI’

As relationship progresses: we reveal a wider breadth of info

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Outline the ‘depth’ of self-disclosure

A

Start of relationship: info we reveal is shallow + superficial

As relationship progresses: info we reveal becomes more personal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a metaphor for the self-disclosure theory

A

Onion

- Gradually peel back superficial surface layers to reveal meaningful info to partner + form an intimate relationship

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What happens regarding self-disclosure if a relationship starts to break down?

A
  • Individuals stop disclosing + disengage with the relationship (DEPENETRATION)
  • Partners may try to save the relationship + reconnect by disclosing more (e.g. at couples therapy) but this doesn’t always work
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Give 2 positive evaluation points for theory of self-disclosure

A

Research support: Aron et al

  • List of 36 questions for partners to ask each other
  • Questions increasingly personal + 4 min stare at end
  • People reported growing closer + feeling more intimate as questions progressed
  • Supports self disclosure gradually helping form intimate bonds

Real world practical application

  • Partners can be taught importance of self-disclosure to improve bond
  • Hass + Stafford found over 50% homosexuals said self-disclosure was the main way they strengthened their relationship
  • Teaching partners with poor communication skills to self-disclose can improve relationships by reducing communication issues
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Give 2 negative evaluation points for theory of self-disclosure

A

Most self-disclosure research is correlational

  • Most research support is correlational
  • E.g. Sprecher + Hendricks found correlation between heterosexual self-disclosure + relationship satisfaction
  • Hard to establish definite cause-effect as another intervening factor may have caused the correlation

Self-disclosure may not improve relationships in all cultures

  • Self-disclosure improves relationships in WEIRD cultures
  • Tang et al found Chinese partners disclosure significantly less sexual thought/deep feelings, but are still in satisfied relationships
  • Self-disclosure therefore may not be a universal factor affecting attractiveness + relationship formation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Define physical attractiveness

A

How attractive we find a person (specifically their face) which is important for a relationship

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

When is physical attractiveness most key?

A

At the very start of the relationship (initial attraction to the partner)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What type of physical features are people most attracted to?

A

Those that would give a high chance of successful reproduction (sexual selection) + then give offspring a higher chance of survival (natural selection)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Give some examples of attractive physical features

A
  • Facial Symmetry (sign of genetic fitness, diseases + infection can cause asymmetry)
  • Neotenous features (‘baby face’) (trigger a protective/caring instinct)
  • Good waist-hip ratio in women (small waist = not pregnant, larger hips = fertile)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Who investigated the optimum waist-hip ratio? What was it found to be?

A

Singh (by studying former Miss America contestants)

It was 0.7

18
Q

What are the aspects of physical attraction affecting relationships that we look at?

A
  • The Halo Effect

- The Matching Hypothesis

19
Q

What is the Halo Effect?

A

When one trait (e.g. attractive physical appearance) has a cognitive bias on how the individual is perceived overall

20
Q

How does the Halo Effect influence how physically attractive people are perceived?

A

People with physically attractive features are perceived to be better (more kind, strong, sociable, successful) so are more likely to be sought after as a mate

21
Q

How can the Halo Effect of physical attractiveness become a self-fulfilling prophecy?

A

Physically attractive individuals are expected to be ‘better’, so rise to this expectation and actually become more successful, kinder, etc

22
Q

Give a real life example of the Halo Effect

A

Ted Bundy

  • Kidnapped, raped + murdered many young women in 1970s
  • Admitted to 30 homicides + executed
  • Seen as handsome, charismatic, charming by many so got away with his crimes for a long time (Halo Effect - not expected to be a bad man)
23
Q

Give a positive evaluation point for the Halo Effect

A

Research support

  • Palmer + Peterson found physically attractive people rated as more politically knowledgable + competent
  • Landy + Arason stimulated a court case + found jury of ppts gave longer sentence to ‘less attractive’ people
  • Multiple pieces of research support the bias physical attractiveness has on perception of overall personality
24
Q

Give a negative evaluation point for the Halo Effect

A

Not everybody values physical attractiveness

  • Individual differences means some people don’t value physical attractiveness in a partner
  • The ‘MACHO Scale’ measured sexist attitudes + found less sexist people less bothered about attractiveness
  • Physical attractiveness may be important for some, but not a universal explanation for why people form certain relationships
25
Q

What is the matching hypothesis?

A

The belief we don’t select the most attractive person as a prospective partner, but choose somebody who matches our level of attractiveness

26
Q

Who proposed the matching hypothesis?

A

Walster + Walster

27
Q

Outline the process of the matching hypothesis

A
  • Evaluate our own attractiveness

- Pick an attainable partner or a similar level of attractiveness

28
Q

Why does the matching hypothesis take place?

A
  • Not everyone can be in relationships with the most attractive people
  • Choosing someone way more attractive would be evolutionary foolish, as we would be likely to be rejected or left by our partner
  • Choosing someone of a similar level means we are more likely to be selected (competing against similar individuals in intrasexual selection)
29
Q

Give a positive evaluation point for the matching hypothesis

A

Experimental Research Support: Kendrick
- 10 men + 10 women in neutral clothes
- Given number to represent attractiveness (can’t see own number)
- Have to pair up
- Findings…
Tried to match with highest numbers first (but rejected by them)
Get offers from lower numbers (turn down, think you can do better)
End up settling with somebody with a similar number

30
Q

Give a negative evaluation point for the matching hypothesis

A

Real world research DOESNT support: Taylor et al

  • Studied activity logs of online dating site
  • Online daters sought dates with more attractive partners
  • Suggests matching hypothesis has low external validity
  • BUT this represents who they sought dates with, not end result partner
31
Q

What is the filter theory?

A

An explanation for relationship formation which states that a series of factors progressively reduce the range of romantic partners to a small pool of options

32
Q

What are the 3 ‘filters’ in the filter theory?

A

1) Social demography
2) Similarity in attitudes
3) Complementarity

33
Q

What is the first filter in the filter theory? Explain it

A

Social demography
(Features that describe populations, e.g. location + class)
- Affects the chances of meeting a person + being geographically close enough to maintain a relationship with them
- Similar social demographics (race, religion, education level, etc) increase the likelihood you will feel compatible + be attracted to them

34
Q

When is social demography important as a filter?

A

Throughout the relationship, but more at the start

35
Q

What is the second filter in the filter theory? Explain it

A

Similarity in attitudes
(Partners who share basic values)
- The ‘law of attraction’ in the first 18 months of the relationship
- Drawn to partners who share your basic values
- Improves communication + self-disclosure, allowing a relationship to form

36
Q

When is similarity in attitudes important as a filter?

A

At the start of a relationship (first 18 months), replaced over time with complementarity

37
Q

When is complementarity important as a filter?

A

After the first 18 months, as the relationship progresses into the long term

38
Q

What is the third filter in the filter theory? Explain it

A

Complementarity
(Partners balancing out each other with traits the other lacks)
- As relationship progresses, ‘opposites attract’ keeps people together
- Partners provide traits the other lacks, so together the relationship forms a whole, making it more likely to flourish and last

39
Q

Give a positive evaluation point for the Filter Theory

A

Research support: Kerckhoff + David
- Longitudinal study of students in relationships
- Measured ‘relationship closeness’ in questionnaire
- Measured ‘similarity of attitudes’ + ‘complementarity’ in another questionnaire
- Findings…
Couples under 18 months: greater similarity = closer
Couples over 18 months: greater complementarity = closer
- Supports existence + order of filters

40
Q

Give 3 negative evaluation points for the Filter Theory

A

Complementarity may not be essential

  • Research shows some couples never progress to need 3rd filter
  • Markey + Markey studied lesbian couples + found couples with two dominant partners were more satisfied than those with one submissive
  • Third filter may not be essential or generalise to everyone

‘Similarity in attitudes’ may only be perceived

  • ‘Perceived similarity in attitudes’ may be better name for 2nd filter
  • Montoya et al did meta analysis to find perceived similarity was a stronger predictor of attraction than actual similarity
  • Filter could be renamed to increase its validity

Social change may alter filters

  • First filter used to dramatically reduce field of options
  • Social change (social media) means location is less of a limiting factor
  • Social change has reduced importance of first filter, so other filters have to play a greater role in modern day life

Psychology - RMC - Relationships (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions