Formation Of Relationships Flashcards
Who proposed the matching hypothesis?
Walster et al
What does the matching hypothesis suggest?
People who are in enduring relationships are similar to each other in attractiveness
What are the 2 hypotheses Walster et al proposed?
1) more socially desirable someone is, the more desirable they would expect a partner to be
2) couple who are well matched are more likely to have an enduring and successful relationship
What is the most important factor that governs a couples’ matching? Explain the why
Physical attractiveness as it’s the most immediate cue for couples to match themselves
What is the value-match?
Compromise between our ideal and what is available
Why do we aim for a perfect match and not a perfect partner?
To reduce our fear of rejection
Who did research into the matching hypothesis?
Walster et al, Murnstein and White
What did participants in Walster et al do first?
‘Computer dance.’ They filled in detailed questionnaire about self
In Walster et al how was partner assignment done?
Randomly although participants believed the computer would match them based on the information from the questionnaires
What happened at the computer dance?
An unseen observer matched them for physical attractiveness and participants were asked how much they liked their partner
What did Walster et al find?
Those who most liked their partner was those who had similar levels of attractiveness
What did the participants in Murnstein do?
They judged their own and their partners psychical attractiveness
How many participants did Murnstein use?
192 couples
What did Murnstein find?
Those couples who had a similar level of attractiveness were more likely to form an intimate relationship
What did White do?
Measured physical attractiveness of 123 couples
What did White find in the 9 month follow up?
That similarity of attractiveness was predictive of courtship progress
What are the evaluation points of matching hypothesis?
Too simplistic, P.A, supporting research, gender differences and culture difference
Which researcher is used for evidence of gender differences?
Takeuchi
What did Takeuchi suggest?
That women value looks of their partner as less important than males do so men can make up for not being as good looking with other desirable attributes
What is the main cultural difference in relationship formation?
The 2 individuals are not the only matchers as family and friends also consider couples compatibility, e.g arranged marriages
What is the practical application of the matching hypothesis?
Applied to help people form successful relationships e.g on dating websites which match people of factors of social desirability such as elitesingles.com
Who proposed the reward/need satisfaction model?
Byrne and Clore
What did Byrne and Clore suggest?
We spend so much time engaging in social relationships because we find them rewarding and find being alone unpleasant and lacking reward
How does the reward/need satisfaction model suggest we are rewarded?
Through operant and classical conditioning
How is positive reinforcement linked to relationship formation?
Argyle suggested those who are most rewarding are liked most. Positive non verbal cues e.g smiling are rewarding and if friend smiles it makes us feel good so more likely to form relationship with them
How does negative reinforcement link to relationship formation?
They act as a support to help us deal with negative feelings which makes you more likely to go see them and therefore more likely to form relationship
How is classical conditioning linked to relationship formation?
May associate person with positive circumstance so associate them with positive feeling so more likely to find them attractive
Who did research into the reward/need satisfaction model?
May and Hamilton,
Cunningham
What did the female participants in May and Hamilton do?
Rated photos of males whilst either listening to pleasant or unpleasant music
What did May and Hamilton find?
Those who listened to pleasant music rated males as more attractive
What are the 2 theories of relationship formation?
Matching hypothesis and the reward/need satisfaction model
What did Cunningham do?
Asked males to watch a happy or a sad film and then interact with a female
What did Cunningham find?
Most positive interaction came from those who watched the happy film
What is the evidence for the gender differences of reward/need satisfaction model?
Lott suggested women are more attentive than males. May be because females socialised into being attentive to needs of others. Formation may not be about seeking reward for self in females
