Close Relationships

Question 1

how did social bonds aid survival?

Answer 1

protected against predators, especially for the young

procuring food

reproducing

Question 2

why do we form social bonds?

Answer 2

lack causes = depression, loneliness, anger, aggressiveness

necessary for survival

Question 3

interpersonal attraction

Answer 3

we often have a gut reaction to a person

Question 4

what are the key factors associated with attraction?

Answer 4

physical factors:
- appearance
- proximity

psychological factors:
- attitude similarity
- mutual liking

Question 5

Hatfield et al - physical appearance study

Answer 5

• asked to complete range of personality tests, before being matched for a social dance
• physical attractiveness was rated
• asked to rate their partner, and would they like to go on a second date
• found the largest predictor of going on second date was attraction

Question 6

the ‘beautiful is good effect’ - studies

Answer 6

more likely to get dates - Berscheid et al 1971

more likely to get better marks at uni - Mandy and Sigall 1974

more likely to be successful in job interview - Dipboye et al 1977

likely to earn more money - Frieze et al 1991

Question 7

what is attractive?

Answer 7

• prototypical (average) faces seem to be most attractive (Halberstadt et al 2005)
• idea is that prototypical faces are easier to process, because they are more similar to the face you imagine

Question 8

what are the evolutionary perspectives on attractiveness?

Answer 8

• a prototypical face is a marker of biological quality (more diverse gene pool, stronger mate, more fertile, etc)
• people also like other symmetrical things, such as cars, dogs, birds, etc

Question 9

what are the gender differences in attraction

Answer 9

research shows that women focus more on status, and men focus more on youth and beauty

Question 10

what is the matching phenomenon?

Answer 10

• in general, people tend to be attracted to others who are of a similar attractiveness to themselves
• matched couples tend to have longer lasting relationships

Question 11

what is the importance of familiarity and proximity?

Answer 11

• finding someone familiar or close to them can facilitate attraction
• people prefer faces that look like their own (Little and Perrett, 2002)
• we are often friends with our neighbours that live closest to us

Question 12

Dorm study - Festinger, Schachter and Back 1950)

Answer 12

• asked 300 MIT dorm residents to list closest friends
• looked at where friends lived within dorm
• one door away: 41% chance being listed as close friend

Question 13

what is the mere exposure effect? - Zajonc 1968, 2001)

Answer 13

• at first, new things make us uncomfortable
• the more we are exposed to things, the more they become familiar
• if there is no harm, familiarity -> liking

Question 14

positive and negative exposure

Answer 14

when an initial reaction is negative, repeated exposure will decrease liking and increase disliking

proximity can sometimes lead to hostility (e.g., domestic violence)

Question 15

what is excitation transfer (study by Dutton and Aron 1974)

Answer 15

• arousal felt by crossing shaky bridge was transferred to female experimenter (male participant more attracted to female experimenter)

Question 16

psychological determinants of attraction

Answer 16

• some people prefer to be alone (Craig et al 1999)
• fear of death automatically increases affiliation (Wisman & Koole 2003)
• being in troublesome situations (Schachter, 1959)

Question 17

what is the balance theory

Answer 17

• people compare their attitudes with others and reach balance if there is similarity
• balance enhances positive feelings and attraction
• attitude dissimilarity causes imbalance

people with more similar personalities, interpersonal and communication skills are more compatible

Question 18

why does it matter that people have similar attitudes to ours?

Answer 18

social comparison
- one way to evaluate validity of own beliefs is to compare them to others

Question 19

how does culture affect attraction

Answer 19

• many aspects of attraction appear universal
• however, people generally prefer to date within their own ethnic group (Liu et al 1995)
• social factors such as family approval are also important determinants of attraction

Question 20

theory of attraction - social exchange theory

Answer 20

economic approach based on relationship costs and rewards

Question 21

theory of attraction - equity theory

Answer 21

outcomes need to be proportionate to contributions

people want fairness

people are most happy in equitable relationships

Question 22

theory of attraction - reinforcement

Answer 22

we like people who are associated with positive feelings, even if they have nothing to do with the reward

Question 23

reciprocity

Answer 23

liking begets liking/mutual exchange

Question 24

different types of relationships (exchange and communal)

Answer 24

exchange: more frequent in broader society, increases societal progress and wealth

communal: more frequent in close intimate relationships, more desirable, healthier and mature

Question 25

what is the reinforcement affect model

Answer 25

people are liked or disliked depending on their association with positive or negative feelings

Question 26

what are the two types of love

Answer 26

passionate love

companionate love

Question 27

what is Sternberg’s theory of love (1988)

Answer 27

passion = emotional state with high bodily arousal

intimacy = feelings of closeness, mutual understanding and concern

commitment = conscious decision, remains conscious

Question 28

attachment and bonding

Answer 28

Harlow’s monkeys

Ainsworth’s strange situation (secure, insecure avoidant, insecure resistant/anxious)

Bowlby’s observation of interaction between infant and mother

Question 29

Rusbult’s investment model of commitment

Answer 29

• people weigh up the rewards, costs and comparisons
• may explain why people stay in abusive relationships
• satisfaction, lack of alternatives, investments

Question 30

what is the physical attractiveness stereotype

Answer 30

tendency for people to assume that attractive people also have other desirable traits