A2 - Relationships Flashcards
What is the role of Need in Reward/Need Satisfaction theory?
Things we find rewarding reflect unmet needs e.g company,money etc.
When does mutual attraction occur in Reward/Need Satisfaction Theory?
When each partner meets the other’s needs.
What is the role of reward in Reward/Need Satisfaction theory?
We are motivated to seek rewarding stimuli and avoid punishing stimuli.
What is the role of operant conditioning in Reward/Need Satisfaction Theory?
People reward/ punish us by creating positive or negative feelings in us. We are likely to repeat behaviours that lead to reward so we form a relationship because we want the reward of that person.
What is the role of classical conditioning in Reward/Need Satisfaction Theory?
UCS=Pleasant experience, UCR=positive feelings
NS=potential partner
NS+UCS=CR=Positive feelings
What is a positive evaluation point for Reward/Need Satisfaction Theory?
Griffitt+Guay: Ps evaluated on creative task by experimenter and asked how much they liked the experimenter. Rated highest when positively evaluated by experimenter. Supports classical and operant conditioning.
What is similarity theory?
People who have similar personalities and attitudes are more likely to be attracted to each other.
What are the two stages of similarity theory?
1) Sort potential partners for dissimilarity avoiding those too different.
2) Choose someone similar to self.
Though opposites do attract sometimes, why is similarity better in the long term?
Similarity has been found to promote happiness in the long term.
What is attitude alignment?
When two people who are mostly similar disagree about something they both modify their attitudes to become more similar.
Why is similarity important? (Evaluation)
1) We assume people similar to us are more likely to like us, lessening the chance of rejection.
2) When other people share our beliefs it reinforces them and rewards us (R/N S theory)
What is a positive evaluation point for Similarity Theory?
Ps read descriptions of a stranger and rated their liking higher when they were similar to them.
What is a negative evaluation point for Similarity Theory?
Research focuses only on attitude and personality. Yoshida found factors such as similarity of self-concept, economic level and physical conditioning equally important.
What is the role of cost-reward ratio in Social Exchange theory?
People exchange resources with the expectation they will earn a profit - rewards gained will exceed costs given. Commitment to a relationship is dependent on the profitability of the outcome.
What are the four stages in Social Exchange Theory?
Sampling - costs and rewards explored
Bargaining - rewards and costs agreed
Commitment - Exchange of rewards and cost acceptance
Institutionalisation - Norms & expectations established
