Chapter 10: Attraction and Intimacy - Linking and Loving others Flashcards
What are the two major types of relationships?
- Communal relationships - we feel a special responsibility to these people, expect them to be long-term, giving and receiving is based on the character of need. Examples include family members, romantic partners, friends
- Exchange relationships - based on reciprocity and equity, don’t necessarily feel a responsibility towards them. Examples include doctors, business interactions
What does equity theory claim?
- Can be applied to all types of relationships
- Claims that individuals feel most satisfied in their relationships when they feel there’s an equal exchange of resources and that they’re not over-benefitting or under-benefitting
- Doesn’t mean they contribute equal amounts, it’s based on each one’s ratio
What leads to friendship (and attraction)?
- Proximity (geographic distance)
- Interaction (functional distance)
- Anticipation of interaction
What did the Westgate West Housing situation at MIT reveal about the importance of proximity in building relationships?
- Students were randomly assigned into a housing complex
- Asked them the 3 top people they socialized with most and on average 2/3 these people lived in their building
- 41% said 1/3 was living next door to them and 75% said 1/3 was 2 doors down
- Those living near the stairs were more likely to meet someone else who also lived near the stairs
What’s homophily?
- The tendency for friendships to form between those who are alike
- These characteristics can include race, gender, age, education, social status, behaviour, political views
What’s the mere exposure effect?
- The tendency for novel stimuli (i.e., people since it’s relationships) to be liked more or rated more positively after the rater has been repeatedly exposed to them
- And the interactions have been positive
What’s functional distance?
- The likelihood that people will have the opportunity to interact
- We will expect to like them more if we know we’re gonna see them again, even if they don’t have the most glowing reviews
- Plays into the important factor of interaction
- Helps to have similar schedules
T/F: Many romantic relationships begin with friendships.
- TRUE
What are some major factors that are taken into consideration when determining someone’s attractiveness?
- Youthfulness
- Face symmetry
- Averageness (a less unique face may be viewed as more attractive)
- Pheromones
- Skin complexion
- Hair texture
*Many of these are indicators of health
Between men and women, rank their preferences between aesthetics, resources, and openness.
- Aesthetics are more important for men, but age is not that important for men
- Resources are more important for women
- Openness is more important for men
- In conclusion, men prefer looks, women prefer resources
From an evolutionary perspective, why do women focus on resources?
- There’s no evolutionary pressure on men for age since men can reproduce at any time in their life
- This is not the case for men since they want to find someone in a fertile window
T/F: Physical attractiveness is a little less important if you’re friends first before you start dating.
- TRUE
T/F: A study determined that identical twins were almost just as similar as their spouses
- TRUE
Do opposites attract?
- Opposites do not attract
- Maybe complementarity, where one person’s needs are met by the other perosn’s difference, or one person’s characteristics complement the other person’s characteristics
What’s passionate love?
- The psychological experience of being physiologically aroused by someone you find attractive
- These two interact
- The neurological effects deactivate the amygdala so we don’t sense any threats in them
