Chapter 15 - Attraction

Question 1

Why do we fall in love with one person and not another?

Answer 1

Physical attractiveness

Status by association

Question 2

‘What’s beautiful is good’ belief perceive

Answer 2

attractive people as more interesting, sensitive, happy, sexy, competent and socially skilled

Question 3

Factors that affect attractiveness?

Answer 3

Facial symmetry

Averageness

Masculinity vs femininity

Genes and diversity (natural selection)

Question 4

According to the biological theories of attraction, especially the evolutionary view

Answer 4

seeking a partner who has different set of genes within their MHC from yourself is beneficial

Question 5

The International Mate Selection Project (Buss and colleagues’ (1990) found that nearly all cultures valued what as most important?

Answer 5

Mutual attraction & love

Question 6

In The International Mate Selection Project, what did the women value most?

Answer 6

‘good financial prospects’, ‘good earning capacity’’ and ‘ambition’ and ‘status in men’

Question 7

In The International Mate Selection Project, what were the men most concerned with?

Answer 7

youth & physical attraction

Question 8

What is socio-biology?

Answer 8

Behaviour explained by evolutionary needs

Question 9

Example of socio-biology in relation to attraction?

Answer 9

Men attracted to young attractive females maximizes reproductive success

Question 10

What is the cognitive origins of attraction?

Answer 10

Our perception and interpretation of the potential mate is what attracts us to them, rather than evolutionary benefit

Question 11

What is the social origins of attraction?

Answer 11

Living close to a potential partner or being exposed to them over and over again through regular interactions will actually influence attraction more than our perception or biological influences

Question 12

What factors influence our attractiveness of someone?

Answer 12

Proximity
Reciprocity
Feeling positive of ones self

Question 13

How does proximity influence attraction?

Answer 13

more exposure effect (familiarity increases liking)

familiarity breeds predictability - > greater comfort

Question 14

How does reciprocity influence attraction?

Answer 14

when a person is a recipient of expressions they are more likely to respond similarly

Question 15

Why do relationships end?

Answer 15

Relationship satisfaction

Communication

Question 16

What are the 5 steps of Duck’s model of relationship dissolution in order?

Answer 16

Intrapsychic
Dyadic
Social
Grave Dressing
Resurrection

Question 17

In Duck’s model of relationship dissolution, what is intrapsychic?

Answer 17

what is happening between the two people; were one feels justified to withdraw

Question 18

In Duck’s model of relationship dissolution, what is dyadic?

Answer 18

when one verbalises tension

Question 19

In Duck’s model of relationship dissolution, what is social?

Answer 19

what’s happening between; groups, conversations, friendship; speaking to other person or friend, realizing issues

Question 20

In Duck’s model of relationship dissolution, what is grave dressing?

Answer 20

the relationship is decaying but neither party wants to admit it

Question 21

In Duck’s model of relationship dissolution, what is resurrection?

Answer 21

where the relationship has ended

Question 22

Strengths of Duck’s model of relationship dissolution?

Answer 22

Face validity
The view of dissolution as a process, rather than event
Stresses important of communication
Supported by empirical studies
Provides real world application

Question 23

Criticisms of Duck’s model of relationship dissolution?

Answer 23

It does not apply to every relationship breakdown, or in the order described

Does not explain why dissatisfaction occurred

is gender bias and difficult to generalize across cultures