Block 6 (Part 1) Flashcards
Proximity
physical nearness
Functional Distance
the frequency with which we cross paths with others
Mere-Exposure Effect
the notion that people like people/places/things merely because they are familiar with them
Perceived Social Support
a person’s perception that others are there to help them in times of need
Received Social Support
the actual act of receiving support (e.g. informational, functional)
Support Network
the people who care about and support a person
What are sex differences?
biological distinctions between people that spring naturally from their physical natures
What are gender differences?
social and psychological distinctions that are created by our cultures and up-bringing
the social expectations and training we apply to people are often confounded with their sex
What are gender roles?
patterns of behavior that are culturally expected of “normal” people
cultural processes lead us to certain expectations
those stereotypes don’t describe real people very well
What is androgyny?
possess both sets of the competencies
possess both instrumental and expressive traits
What are instrumental traits?
assertiveness
self-reliance
ambition
leadership
decisiveness
What are expressive traits?
warmth
tenderness
compassion
kindness
sensitivity to others
What is sexual orientation?
a person’s sexual identity in relation to the gender to which they are attracted; for example, to members of the same sex (homosexuality), the opposite sex (heterosexuality), or both sexes (bisexuality)
How was a biological disposition to homosexuality discovered?
Simon LeVay (1991): examined a tiny nucleus in the hypothalamus
twin studies suggest a genetic predisposition (Bailey & Pillard, 1991)
What is erotic plasticity?
women may be more open and more likely to change sexual preferences over the course of a lifetime
not clear that sexual orientation for men and women is similarly rooted
What is the theory of exotic becoming erotic?
Daryl Bem (1996, 2000) sees the development of sexual orientation as a psychobiological process
genes influence a person’s temperament at birth, and who they play with
later, at puberty, people find that they are attracted to members of the same or opposite sex-depending on which is the more exotic
people do not seem to willfully choose their sexual orientation, nor can they change it
What are the similarities between heterosexual and homosexual couples?
the ways they meet
how satisfaction and commitment levels are affected by social exchange and equity concerns
the levels of liking and loving in their intimate relationships
What are two ways same-sex couples differ from straight couples?
are more likely to retain friendships with former sex partners
tend to divide chores more equally within a household
What is the proximity effect?
the single best predictor of attraction is physical proximity, or nearness
where we live influences the friends we make
college students tend to date those who live either nearby or in the same type of housing as they do
What is the mere exposure effect?
contrary to folk wisdom, familiarity does not breed contempt
the more often we are exposed to a stimulus, the more we come to like that stimulus
familiarity can influence our self-evaluations
What two factors is passionate attraction rooted in?
physiological arousal
attribution of the arousal to another person