Chp 13.3: Social Relations I

Question 1

The two criteria to satisfying the need for affiliation

Answer 1

1. Frequent and pleasant interactions

2. Temporally stable interactions involving concern

Question 2

social comparison

Answer 2

the act of comparing one’s personal attributes, abilities, and opinions to those of other people

Question 3

What leads us to be attracted to others?

Answer 3

•Proximity
• Our ”nearness” to other people influences the likelihood of social interaction
• The mere exposure effect
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•Similarity
• Overwhelming evidence for similarity on a number of psychological dimensions: attributes, attitudes, beliefs, and values
• Similarity found across cultures and different age groups
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•Physical Attractiveness

Question 4

mere exposure effect

Answer 4

the tendency to evaluate a stimulus more favourably after repeated exposure to it(with some exceptions)

Question 5

Identify two factors that may underlie the desire to affiliate more with attractive people than unattractive people.

Answer 5

• we often assume that attractive people have more positive personality characteristics than unattractive people, stereotype of ‘what beautiful is good
• Because we are often judged by the company we keep, we also may prefer to associate with attractive people to buttress our self-esteem
• (Self-conscious people, who are highly concerned about how they come across to others, are especially likely to gravitate toward attractive people)

Question 6

matching effect

Answer 6

in romantic relationships, the tendency for partners to have a similar level of physical attractiveness

Question 7

Self-disclosure

Answer 7

one way to deepen attraction
• Increases emotional involvement
• Increases relationship satisfaction

Question 8

social exchange theory

Answer 8

• In relationships, rewards and costs are weighed
• Rewards may include: meeting needs, emotional support, companionship
• Costs may include: goal conflict, effort to maintain relationship

Question 9

What two standards are outcomes evaluated against in the social exchange theory?

Answer 9

Comparison level for alternatives: potential alternatives to relationship, eg. Think something better is available (determines commitment)

Question 10

triangular theory of love (Sternberg)

Answer 10

the view that various types of love result from different combinations of three core factors: intimacy, commitment, and passion

Question 11

7 types of love in the triangular theory of love

Answer 11

Consummate love 
(intimacy plus passion plus commitment)

Liking
(intimacy alone).

Companionate love
 (intimacy plus commitment)

Empty love
(commitment alone)

Fatuous love 
(passion plus commitment)

Infatuation
(passion alone)

Romantic love 
(intimacy plus passion)

Question 12

cognitive-arousal model of love

Answer 12

the view that passionate love has interacting cognitive and physiological components

Question 13

transfer of excitationa

Answer 13

misinterpretation of one’s state of arousal that occurs when arousal actually is caused by one source, but the person attributes it to another source

Question 14

What are “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”? (bad dealing with anger in relationship)

Answer 14

criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling (listener withdrawal and nonresponsiveness).

Question 15

prejudice

Answer 15

a negative attitude toward people based on their membership in a group

Question 16

discrimination

Answer 16

treating people unfairly based on the group to which they belong

Question 17

Identify cognitive processes that foster prejudice. (3)

Answer 17

• in-group favouritism (attribute more positive qualities to “us” than “them”)
• out-group derogation (tendency to attribute negative qualities to “them” than “us”)
• out-group homogeneity bias (view members of out-groups to be similar to one-another than members of in-group, eg, Asian has many subgroups, but grouped in one)

Question 18

Cognitive Roots of Prejudice (2)

Answer 18

• Categorization and us-them thinking

* Stereotypes and attributional distortions

Question 19

Categorization and us-them thinking

Answer 19

• In-groups (groups that we belong to) vs. out-groups (groups that we do not belong to)
• Can lead to in-group favouritism and out-group derogation
• Can lead to out-group homogeneity bias

Question 20

Stereotypes and attributional distortions

Answer 20

• Categorization can also lead us to apply stereotypes since targets ”fit” a particular category
• Those who don’t “fit” tend to be considered an exception (less likely to change our stereotypes)

Question 21

Motivational Roots of Prejudice

Answer 21

• realistic conflict theory

- social identity theory

Question 22

realistic conflict theory

Answer 22

the theory that competition (between groups) for limited resources fosters prejudice

Question 23

social identity theory

Answer 23

• the theory that prejudice stems from a need to enhance our self-esteem, , but our SE can also come from groups
• Associate with groups to enhance our SE, but threats to our groups can threaten our SE

Question 24

stereotype threat

Answer 24

according to Claude Steele, the idea that stereotypes create a fear and self-consciousness among stereotyped group members that they will “live up” to other people’s stereotypes

Question 25

equal status contact

Answer 25

a prejudice reduction principle based on the idea that prejudice among people is most likely to be reduced when they
(1) engage in sustained close contact,
(2) have equal status,
(3) work to achieve a common goal that requires cooperation, and
(4) are supported by broader social norms
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Can also reinforce counter-stereotypical information