Formation Of Relationships

Question 1

Who proposed the matching hypothesis?

Answer 1

Walster et al

Question 2

What does the matching hypothesis suggest?

Answer 2

People who are in enduring relationships are similar to each other in attractiveness

Question 3

What are the 2 hypotheses Walster et al proposed?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What is the most important factor that governs a couples’ matching? Explain the why

Answer 4

Physical attractiveness as it’s the most immediate cue for couples to match themselves

Question 5

What is the value-match?

Answer 5

Compromise between our ideal and what is available

Question 6

Why do we aim for a perfect match and not a perfect partner?

Answer 6

To reduce our fear of rejection

Question 7

Who did research into the matching hypothesis?

Answer 7

Walster et al, Murnstein and White

Question 8

What did participants in Walster et al do first?

Answer 8

‘Computer dance.’ They filled in detailed questionnaire about self

Question 9

In Walster et al how was partner assignment done?

Answer 9

Randomly although participants believed the computer would match them based on the information from the questionnaires

Question 10

What happened at the computer dance?

Answer 10

An unseen observer matched them for physical attractiveness and participants were asked how much they liked their partner

Question 11

What did Walster et al find?

Answer 11

Those who most liked their partner was those who had similar levels of attractiveness

Question 12

What did the participants in Murnstein do?

Answer 12

They judged their own and their partners psychical attractiveness

Question 13

How many participants did Murnstein use?

Answer 13

192 couples

Question 14

What did Murnstein find?

Answer 14

Those couples who had a similar level of attractiveness were more likely to form an intimate relationship

Question 15

What did White do?

Answer 15

Measured physical attractiveness of 123 couples

Question 16

What did White find in the 9 month follow up?

Answer 16

That similarity of attractiveness was predictive of courtship progress

Question 17

What are the evaluation points of matching hypothesis?

Answer 17

Too simplistic, P.A, supporting research, gender differences and culture difference

Question 18

Which researcher is used for evidence of gender differences?

Answer 18

Takeuchi

Question 19

What did Takeuchi suggest?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What is the main cultural difference in relationship formation?

Answer 20

The 2 individuals are not the only matchers as family and friends also consider couples compatibility, e.g arranged marriages

Question 21

What is the practical application of the matching hypothesis?

Answer 21

Applied to help people form successful relationships e.g on dating websites which match people of factors of social desirability such as elitesingles.com

Question 22

Who proposed the reward/need satisfaction model?

Answer 22

Byrne and Clore

Question 23

What did Byrne and Clore suggest?

Answer 23

We spend so much time engaging in social relationships because we find them rewarding and find being alone unpleasant and lacking reward

Question 24

How does the reward/need satisfaction model suggest we are rewarded?

Answer 24

Through operant and classical conditioning

Question 25

How is positive reinforcement linked to relationship formation?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

How does negative reinforcement link to relationship formation?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

How is classical conditioning linked to relationship formation?

Answer 27

May associate person with positive circumstance so associate them with positive feeling so more likely to find them attractive

Question 28

Who did research into the reward/need satisfaction model?

Answer 28

May and Hamilton,

Cunningham

Question 29

What did the female participants in May and Hamilton do?

Answer 29

Rated photos of males whilst either listening to pleasant or unpleasant music

Question 30

What did May and Hamilton find?

Answer 30

Those who listened to pleasant music rated males as more attractive

Question 31

What are the 2 theories of relationship formation?

Answer 31

Matching hypothesis and the reward/need satisfaction model

Question 32

What did Cunningham do?

Answer 32

Asked males to watch a happy or a sad film and then interact with a female

Question 33

What did Cunningham find?

Answer 33

Most positive interaction came from those who watched the happy film

Question 34

What is the evidence for the gender differences of reward/need satisfaction model?

Answer 34

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