Ch. 10 Interpersonal Attraction

Question 1

What is the Propinquity or Proximity Effect?

Answer 1

• The more we see and interact with people, the more likely they are to become our friends
• The mere exposure effect -
  We’re merely exposed to someone and we are more apt to liking it or person; there needs to be an initial bit of liking

Question 2

T or F: If we don’t like someone, if we keep getting exposed to them, we’ll end up being okay with them

Answer 2

F. If someone is a total jerk or a smell of food is noxious, it will make us dislike it even more the more exposed we are to it

Question 3

What does research indicate: do birds of a feather flock together, or do opposites attract?

Answer 3

Similarity = more liking. More likely to meet someone doing something you enjoy; similar activities.

Question 4

What is the Matching hypothesis?

Answer 4

Matching Hypothesis – idea that we’re attracted to people who are in the same level of attractiveness as us; people who are 10s are with 10s…

Question 5

In a committed relationship, is someone more likely to choose someone that’s similar to them, or complimentary to them?

Answer 5

Similar values and future goals matter in a committed relationship

Question 6

What’s more important, perceived similarities or actual similarities?

Answer 6

Perceived similarities are more important than Actual similarities

Question 7

In a fling, is someone more likely to choose someone that’s similar to them, or complimentary to them?

Answer 7

Fling = more likely to choose a dissimilar partner; gives you an out (“this person’s not right for me – it’s just a fling”)

Question 8

What is one of the greatest determinant of liking someone?

Answer 8

> Reciprocal liking (self-fulfilling prophecy) – one of the greatest determinant of liking someone is if we think someone likes us.

> If we believe someone else likes us, we will be more likable (being nicer, smiling more) in their presence, and this will lead them to like us more (self-fulfilling prophecy)

Question 9

What has research shown about Reciprocal Liking?

Answer 9

Research showed that Reciprocal liking is powerful enough to neutralize our basic tendency to be like more attractive faces

Question 10

What is the major determinant of Liking?

Answer 10

• Physical Attractiveness is a major determinant of Liking; it overrides intelligence
• Especially First Impressions because they’re very powerful; we create schemas about people

Question 11

True or False: Males care more about physical attractiveness than females.

Answer 11

Both sexes value physical attractiveness for sexual partner

Question 12

What is the kernal of truth regarding sociability and attractiveness?

Answer 12

Kernel of truth can just be a self-fulfilling prophecy - Association with physical attractiveness and sociability

Question 13

How does physical attractiveness affect inequalities in life?

Answer 13

• Cuter babies get more attention and are more healthy than not as cute babies
• Elections – bill clinton was more attractive than bush sr.
• More job promotions

Question 14

Describe what men and women are attractive to each other mostly, evolutionarily speaking.

Answer 14

Men ~ appearance; Women ~ resources

Learned social roles – women being more attracted to physically attractive men

Question 15

Describe Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love:

Intimacy, Passion, & Commitment

Answer 15

Intimacy – disclosure and being close to someone
> Liking someone will include Intimacy but not passion
>We might have passion but no commitment

> Companionate love – Includes all 3
It shifts; high commitment and intimacy (increases over time), dimming passion

> Infatuation – high passion, no intimacy and commitment
Flings and one-night stand

> Romantic love – high on intimacy and passion, low on commitment

-A short-lived honeymoon relationship

Question 16

What is attachment style? Where does it come from?

Answer 16

Attachment Styles: the expectations people develop about relationships with others, based on the relationship with the primary caregiver as infants

Secure, Anxious/Ambivalent, Avoidant

Question 17

Describe Secure attachment style

Answer 17

Secure: develops in those who had responsive caregivers;
- characterized with trust, and feel liked, loved, lovable, and worthy; no sense of abandonment

• Have the most longest enduring relationships
• High levels of satisfaction

Question 18

Describe Anxious/Ambivalent attachment styles

Answer 18

Anxious/Ambivalent: develops in inconsistent and overbearing experiences from caregivers as infants; concerns that someone won’t reciprocate levels of relationship

• Most short-lived romantic relationships
• Enter into relationships more quickly and do so without knowing them well
• Anxious men were more likely to seek courtship; most upset and angry when love isn’t reciprocated

Question 19

What type of attachment style characteristic is the following:

-Most short-lived romantic relationships

Answer 19

Anxious/Ambivalent

Question 20

Describe Avoidant attachment style.

Answer 20

Avoidant: develops in those who had aloof and cold caregivers, not as responsive;

• they try to connect, but it’s difficult to give affection to their children
• Less trusting; Difficult to develop intimate relationship (protection)
• Don’t like being rejected, so they reject upfront
• Least likely to enter into romantic relationships and report never having been in love
• Lowest levels of commitment

Question 21

What type of attachment style characteristic is the following:

• they try to connect, but it’s difficult to give affection to their children

Answer 21

Avoidant attachment style.

Question 22

What type of attachment style characteristic is the following:

-Lowest levels of commitment

Answer 22

Avoidant attachment style.

Question 23

What is the Social Exchange Theory in regards to relationships?

Answer 23

Social Exchange Theory ~ how people feel about their relationship will depend on: perception of rewards they receive & costs they incur;
How people feel about their relationship will depend on: perception of rewards they receive & costs they incur

> We use this to understand and measure Satisfaction

> Also on their perception of what kind of relationship they deserve & the probability that they could have a better relationship with someone else.

Question 24

Who is more likely to stay in a relationship:

High comparison or Low comparison individuals?

Answer 24

• High comparison person who believes there are people who can offer more
• High comparison levels - expects lots of rewards and few costs
• Low comparison level more likely to stay in a costly relationship because they’re not looking for alternatives because of the expectations they can get is not better than the current person (when unsatisfied)
• Low comparison levels – happy in same relationship because expectations are that it’s difficult and costly

Question 25

Describe the Investment model

Answer 25

Investment Model ~ commitment to a relationship depends on how much they have invested in the relationship that would be lost by leaving it

Ex) Financial investments – own home, business, time, children,

Question 26

When are people most happy in a relationship?

Answer 26

According to the Equity Theory ~ people are happiest with relationships in which the rewards and costs experienced, and contributions are roughly equal

-The most stable relationships
have a balanced give and take

Question 27

What does research show about the difference between actual and perceived similarities, in predicting liking and attraction?

Answer 27

Research indicated than PERCEIVED similarity predicted long-term relationship; liking and attraction.

Question 28

Whether similarity or complementarity is important depends on what?

Answer 28

The level of commitment towards a romantic partner; so if participants wanted a committed relationship, they chose similar partners, flings, chose dissimilar partners.

Question 29

What’s more powerful: Similarities or Liking?

Answer 29

Liking - thinking someone likes US is more powerful than sharing any similarities with that person.

Question 30

What’s more powerful: Reciprocal liking or Attractiveness?

Answer 30

Reciprocal liking is more powerful; someone who likes us back is more likely to be a better candidate for us than someone who is attractive.

Question 31

What is the number one characteristic that determined whether someone liked each other in the research on the incoming students at the University of Minnesota blind date dance?

Answer 31

Physical attractiveness

Question 32

Sam has his eye on Julie and wants her to like him. According to research in social psychology, which of the following is least likely to work? He should

a. emphasize how similar their attitudes are.
b. arrange to work with her on a class project so that he can spend time with her.
c. emphasize that they have complementary personalities; after all, “opposites attract.”
d. make himself look as physically attractive as he
can.

Answer 32

c. emphasize that they have complementary personalities; after all, “opposites attract.”

Question 33

Rachel is considered physically attractive by her American classmates because of her large eyes and small nose—“baby face” characteristics. In another culture, she would most likely be considered

a. unattractive because her features are not unique.
b. unattractive because people’s perceptions of beauty differ across cultures.
c. attractive because people’s perceptions of “baby face” attractiveness are similar across cultures.
d. attractive because “baby face” characteristics appear
exotic to people of other cultures.

Answer 33

c. attractive because people’s perceptions of “baby face” attractiveness are similar across cultures.

Question 34

Kate and Jamie are dating. According to the investment model of close relationships, which of the following is least likely to influence their commitment to the relationship?

a. Their satisfaction with the relationship
b. Their level of investment in the relationship
c. The availability and quality of alternative partners
d. Their perception that what they are putting into the relationship is roughly the same as what they are getting out of it

Answer 34

d. Their perception that what they are putting into the relationship is roughly the same as what they are getting out of it

Question 35

_________ involves intense longing for another person, accompanied by physiological arousal, whereas ________ is the intimacy and affection we feel without arousal.

a. passionate love, infatuation
b. companionate love, passionate love
c. infatuation, companionate love
d. passionate love, companionate love

Answer 35

d. passionate love, companionate love

Question 36

Which of the following is false?

a. People in communal relationships tend to keep track of who is contributing what to the relationship.
b. People find “average” faces to be more attractive than unusual faces.
c. People like others who like them.
d. The more we see and interact with people, the more we will like them.

Answer 36

a. People in communal relationships tend to keep track of who is contributing what to the relationship.

Question 37

Which of the following statements regarding attachment style is true?

a. Few if any individuals change their attachment style once they reach adulthood.
b. A majority of adults have been found to exhibit an avoidant attachment style.
c. The attachment style that adults display is shaped by their partner’s behavior and the type of relationship they’ve created as a couple.
d. Your attachment style as an infant typically has little to do with the attachment style you have in your adult relationships.

Answer 37

c. The attachment style that adults display is shaped by their partner’s behavior and the type of relationship they’ve created as a couple.

Question 38

Matthew and Eric have been friends since the beginning of the school year. According to equity theory, their friendship will suffer if

a. Eric is much more likely to help Matthew out when he needs it than Matthew is to help Eric.
b. Eric has a “makeover” and becomes more attractive than Matthew.
c. Eric and Matthew stop having similar interests.
d. Eric and Matthew are romantically interested in the same person.

Answer 38

a. Eric is much more likely to help Matthew out when he needs it than Matthew is to help Eric.

Question 39

Research on the ability of dating Web sites to effectively match up mates using mathematical compatibility analyses indicates that:

a. the Web sites do a better job of matching up same-sex couples than opposite-sex couples.
b. the Web sites produce a higher “hit rate” of happy relationships than do less-mathematical means of meeting a dating partner.
c. the Web sites are no better at producing happy relationships than are more old-fashioned ways of meeting a dating partner, like being set up by friends.

d. contrary to many assumptions, older individuals (e.g., senior citizens) are more likely to be successful finding love online than younger individuals (e.g., college
students) .

Answer 39

c. the Web sites are no better at producing happy relationships than are more old-fashioned ways of meeting a dating partner, like being set up by friends.

Question 40

Elliot worries that his girlfriend doesn’t really love him and smothers her with attention. According to attachment theory, Elliot probably has a(n) attachment style, because when he was an infant, his caregivers were

a. avoidant, aloof and distant
b. avoidant, inconsistent and overbearing
c. anxious-ambivalent, aloof and distant
d. anxious-ambivalent, inconsistent and overbearing
e. secure, responsive to his needs

Answer 40

d. anxious-ambivalent, inconsistent and overbearing

Question 41

You are considering breaking up with your significant other after 1 month of being a couple. While the relationship gives you lots of rewards and has few costs, you have recently met someone new whom you anticipate will give you even more rewards for even fewer costs. Your dilemma stems from the fact that you have a __________ and a ____________:

a. low satisfaction level, high comparison level for
alternatives

b. high satisfaction level, high comparison level for alternatives

c. low satisfaction level, low comparison level for
alternatives

d. low satisfaction level, high equity level
e. high satisfaction level, low equity level

Answer 41

b. high satisfaction level, high comparison level for alternatives

Question 42

Physically attractive people earned how much more than below-average people?

Answer 42

10 - 15% more

Question 43

What area of the brain becomes active when in passionate love?

Answer 43

The VTA - ventral tegmental area and the caudate nucleus

Question 44

What type of attachment style would an infant have if their caregiver is aloof and distant, and rebuff attempts to be intimate?

Answer 44

Avoidant attachment.

The infants eventually learn to suppress their needs for intimacy because they know it will be rejected

Question 45

Which of the following would be most concerned about whether their partner will return their affections:

Avoidant or Anxious/Ambivalent?

Answer 45

Anxious/Ambivalent - they’re ANXIOUS that their affection won’t get returned.

Question 46

Which of the following as the most short-lived romantic relationships?

Answer 46

Anxious/Ambivalent

Question 47

If someone believes that their partner cannot be relied on for support or nurturance because of a reaction to a negatively written note, what type of attachment style might s/he be?

Answer 47

Avoidant attachment style

Question 48

If someone believes that their partner is unpredictable and likely to reject them because of a reaction to a negatively written note, what type of attachment style might s/he be?

Answer 48

Anxious/Ambivalent

Question 49

People who have a low comparison level would be happy in the same relationship because they expect their relationships to be ________ and ________.

Answer 49

People who have a low comparison level would be happy in the
same relationship because they expect their relationships to be difficult and costly.

Question 50

What is Comparison Level?

Answer 50

Your satisfaction with a relationship also depends on your perception of the likelihood that you could replace it with a better one—or your comparison level for alternatives.

Question 51

Who is more likely to stay in a costly relationship: Someone with high comparison level or low comparison level?

Answer 51

People with a low comparison level for alternatives will be more likely to stay in a costly relationship, because, in their mind, what they have may not be great, but it’s better than their expectation of what they could find elsewhere.

Question 52

What reason is there to stay in relationships even when satisfaction is low and other alternatives look promising?

Answer 52

The greater the investment individuals have in a relationship, the less likely they are to leave, even when satisfaction is low and other alternatives look promising.

Question 53

What are the 3 things we need to know to predict whether someone will stay in an intimate relationship?

Answer 53

To predict whether people will stay in an intimate relationship, we need to know (1) how satisfied they are with the relationship, (2) what they think of their alternatives, and (3) how great their investment in the relationship is.

Question 54

According to Equity theory, why should the overbenefited
individual want to give up what social exchange theory indicates is a cushy deal: lots of rewards for little cost and little work?

Answer 54

Theorists argue that equity is a powerful
social norm and that people will eventually feel uncomfortable and guilty if they keep
getting more than they deserve in a relationship.

Question 55

What’s the difference between the Equity theory and Communal theory?

Answer 55

For long-term relationships, we don’t worry about getting paid back immediately, or if we will ever be paid back.