Attraction, Intimacy, and relationships Flashcards
the importance of intimate relationships (6)
positive health outcomes
social support
goal pursuit
self-expansion
Michelangelo effect
Capitalization
Michelangelo effect
defines the dynamics by which couples ‘sculpt’ each other based on positive reinforcement
if you know that your partner is confident and optimistic, you’ll try not to let them become discouraged
factors that influence our choice of close friends and partners
proximity
physical attractiveness
perceived similarity
proximity
physical distance between two persons
proximity effect
the closer someone is, the more likely we are to start a relationship with them
proximity - functional distance
the closeness between places in terms of interaction opportunities
ex: friendship formation in apartments
– 65% of people said closest friend was in the building
what causes the proximity effect?
higher probability of meeting people who are close in physical distance
anticipating interacting with someone boosts liking for them
- familiarity causes the proximity effect
what else causes the proximity effect?
Mere exposure effect: tendency for novel stimuli to be liked more or rated more positively after being repeatedly exposed to a person
physical attractiveness
physically attractive people are more likely to marry or re-marry, achieve good grades, attain prestigious occupations, get lighter sentences for crimes
the halo effect
the belief that physically attractive people have a wide range of positive characteristics
effects of plastic surgery: more kinds, sensitive, sexually warm and responsive, likeable
MBA graduate study: attractiveness influences salary
– men +2,600$
– women +2,150$
is the halo effect true?
no - attractive people are not more intelligent, dominant, happy, or mentally healthy
yes - attractive people are more comfortable and competent in social settings
* attractive people are more socially skilled
what influences physical attractiveness?
facial symmetry
facial averageness
facial symmetry
degree to which one side of the face is similar to the other
– increases attractiveness in all cultures
averageness effect
the physical beauty that results from averaging the facial features of people of the same gender and approximately the same age
- not ordinary or basic, it is actually the average of mathematical means
- if you take two photos and merge them together, the resulting photo is more attractive than the original two separately
- evolutionary based - more extreme facial forms are more likely to result in genetic mutation
–average faces mean better genes
familiarity effect
we tend to like stimuli more when it is familiar
perceived similarity
similarity increases attraction
- personality
- demographics
- looks
similar people more likely to be friends or in a relationship
* introverts attract introverts
* shared backgrounds results in longer relationships
* people are more attracted to people who look like them
matching hypothesis
- similarity in attractiveness hypothesis
the tendency to choose as partners those who are a match in attractiveness
you choose people that we think are the same level of attractiveness as you
matching hypothesis results
among casual daters, those who broke up had a bigger gap in attractiveness (same for serious daters)
for married couples there is no difference
– same gap in attractiveness between those that broke up and those who stayed together
– those with big gaps probably already broke up before marriage
what determines the kind of relationship we have?
attachment style
attachment style
primates are more attached to warm mothers
first relationship with mother or primary caregiver sets template for other relationships that child will have
strange situation
infants behaviour to caregiver determines their attachment style
people develop models of close relationships that they carry with them
develop either secure, avoidant, or anxious/ambivalent attachment
secure attachment
reliable caregiver (good, dependent bond)
– child is happy and engage with stranger, upset with caregiver leave, happy and calm down when caregiver gets back
avoidant attachment
avoid caregiver, no emotion when they leave or return, no exploring
– learn not the be dependent on the availability of the caregiver
** result on unavailable caretakers
** (Baby is independent and apathetic)
anxious/ambivalent attachment
undependable, unpredictable caretaker
when caregiver leaves, child will be highly distressed and ambivalent when they return
– happy that they came back but angry that they left them at the same time
caregiver sometimes loving sometimes not, sometimes cold and detached
