hhh Flashcards
evolutionary theory of attraction
- genetic mutation, when DNA is copied small errors can occur
- some mutations can be useful and others can harm the species
- competition for scarce resources
- natural and sexual selection, only the best genes being able to reproduce to increase odds of survival
- differential reproduction. “bad genes” dying early or at birth and “good genes” continuing to survive and reproduce
- heritability of traits, certain trait allowed them to stay alive for longer and pass it on to the next generation
- attracted to what will best benefit us and potential offspring
- men and women have evolved and use different mechanisms to assess what is attractive
- different challenges face in early ancestral stage
- women pregnant, care for child, needs centered around resources to support them but also vulnerability
- women if man stay and provide
- men if women is “fit” to carry their child, younger, healthy attractive, not sex with others prevent providing for not his child
Assumes physical attraction is only relevant, other factors
Considerable cultural variation as well
Explains why certain physical features are attractive in different cultures and time periods
Well supported by evidence
Evidence physical features are associated with good health
Wedekind et al 1995
Investigate the impact of fertility on mate selection
MCH genes responsible for development of the immune system
Healthiest individuals would have a large range of MCH genes, fight more diseases
More likely to survive to sexualy maturity
Evolution, procreate with someone dissimilar to best protect future offspring
Women and men, men slept in t-shirt 2 nights in a row, lined up, 3 MCH similar, 3 MCH dissimilar, 1 control, rated from 1 to 10
Women on BC MCH similar, Women not on BC MCH dissimilar
Past partners often MCH dissimilar, reflects real world choices
Low ecological validity, don’t choose mate from T-Shirts
High replicability
Generalizable to other age groups- past or before reproductive years?
Supports evolutionary theory of attraction
Unclear of how much a role MCH would actually play in reality, many other factors that influence attraction
Buss 1989
Investigate preference of gender and culture, over 10,000 participants from over 30 countries
Diverse range of participants, rate traits on a scale of importance for a potential partner
Translated into the language required 3 times to ensure accuracy
Results supported buss’ hypothesis, women money higher and older, men younger better looking
Because across cultures similar, suggests biological basis and not product of culture
Samples not representative of each culture, less educated and socioeconomic status not well represented
Variety and inconsistency of sampling methods, no follow up check for consistency
Oldest person 28, other age groups generalizable?
Some differences explained due to cultural differences, traditional vs more modern values
Low ecological validity, unsure if choices are reflective of dating history, self ranked
Large sample size, able to make cross cultural comparisons
3 times translated so no errors in communication
social penetration theory
- close relationships are formed over time, process of self disclosure
- as relationships develop, shallow communication to deeper communication
- one person discloses deep information so will the other causing closer relationship (disclosure reciprocity)
Four horsemen of the apocalypse
- criticism
verballing attacking personality or characteristics - defensiveness
reversing blame criticising back - stonewalling
withdrawing from the relationship to convey disapproval and distance - contempt
attacking partners sense of self to psychologically abuse them
Gottman
Investigate how communication impacts marital satisfaction and likelihood of divorce
All participants couples, video recalling recent disagreement, video analyzed by coding verbal statements and facial expressions
Followed up after the study to see which couples stayed together and which divorced
High in the four horsemen significantly more likely to divorce, able to predict with 91% accuracy which couples stayed together
Healthy communication patterns are essential to the success of a relationship
Researcher bias, not all verbale statements and facial expressions are 100% objective
Self selected sample, educated middle class americans, limited generalizability
Correlational, no variables manipulated, communication may not cause relationship dissatisfaction, extraneous variables
Communication and current relationship impact each other, poor relationship worse communication
Lainiala and Säävälä’s 2013
Intercultural marriages considering marriage in comparison to monocultural marriages
Random participants from finnish population, 6000 participants, accuracy of origin by registered native language, postal survey variety of issues, sources of conflict, agreement in raising children, also rate considered divorce in the last year
Females both finnish and foreign in both relationship types similar level of consideration in divorce
Men in intercultural more likely to consider divorce
Value conflicts may factor in divorce consideration in finnish men married to foreign women
Cultural factors influence relationship success
social exchange theory
relationship will only last if both people “get something” out of it
outcome
weighing up rewards and costs
rewards of relationship minus the cost
- rewards, intimacy, emotional, financial support, social standing, fun
- costs, arguments, jealousy, manipulation, annoying
- aim most rewards, least costs
comparison level
- past experiences/ expectations for relationship
comparison level for alternatives
- other options
- more attractive more options
- strength, explain why people stay in bad relationships
- limitation, assuming complete motivation in self interest, implies true commitment doesn’t exist, always looking for alternatives
- impossible to quantify relationship rewards, costs and quality of alternatives, hard to use theory to predict couples staying together and breaking up
ma-kellams and wang
- investigate how attractiveness can impact relationship longevity
130 participants, half in relationship - shown a picture an attractive person of the opposite sex, ranked 1-7 how attracted to them
- researchers secretly rated attractiveness of participants
- participants below average looks, low attractiveness ratings to the person in the photo, not interested in relationship alternatives
- above average looks, significantly higher attractiveness ratings, more open to pursuing relationships
- very good looking, more interested in pursuing attractive members of the opposite sex, even if already in a relationship
- supports the predictions of social exchange theory
- limitation, only attractiveness ratings were measured, not if participant would actually flirt or be unfaithful
- all american, may not apply to other cultures
Heider (1958)
- attribution theory
- we try to make sense of our social world by using information through our senses to explain what is happening
- process to explain our experiences
- internal, intentional
- external, didn’t see etc
