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SEM 1 Intro to Social Psych > Interpersonal Relationships > Flashcards

Interpersonal Relationships Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the largest predictor of attraction for men?

A

Physical attractiveness

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2
Q

What is the largest predictor of attraction for women?

A

Status and signs of dominance

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3
Q

What does the paternal investment theory explain?

A

Sex/gender differences in attraction

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4
Q

How can we explain sex/gender differences in attraction?

A

Paternal Investment Theory

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5
Q

The idea that sex differences can be understood in terms of the amount of time, energy, and risk (costs) to their own survival that males and females put into parenting versus mating

This is known as…?

A

Paternal Investment Theory

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6
Q

Describe the Paternal Investment Theory

A

The idea that sex differences can be understood in terms of the amount of time, energy, and risk (costs) to their own survival that males and females put into parenting versus mating

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7
Q

According to the Paternal Investment Theory, why do men prefer women who are physically more attractive?

A

Sex for men has a low cost (the only cost is to produce sperm)

Men sleep with attractive females as they were more likely to be fertile than less attractive females

Men are attracted to a certain body type with clear skin as these are desirable traits to pass on to offspring

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8
Q

According to the Paternal Investment Theory, why do women prefer men who are dominant with a high status?

A

Sex for women has a high cost (9 months of pregnancy, takes lots of energy and effort to diet and to keep the baby healthy)

Women want men with status and a stable job/background to help support them with the overbearing parental investment costs

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9
Q

What type of faces are judged as more attractive?

a. Symmetric
b. Asymmetric

A

a. Symmetric

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10
Q

Why do men prefer female faces with high cheekbones and smooth skin?

A

Because it is the most sensitive indicator of high levels of oestrogen (healthy, fertile)

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11
Q

Why do women prefer male faces with a large jaw, and prominent brow ridges and cheekbones?

A

Because it signals high levels of testosterone (masculine, dominant)

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12
Q

What is the “ideal” type of body for men?

A

Upside-down triangle
- Narrow waist and broad chest and shoulders

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13
Q

What is the “ideal” type of body for women?

A

Hourglass
- Shaped waist-to-hip ratio of 0.70 (associated with fertility and being able to give birth easier)

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14
Q

People are cognitively biased towards attractive people.

Is this true or false?

A

True

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15
Q

Attractive people are more extraverted, have higher self-confidence, and possess better social skills (Langlois et al., 2000)

Why does this happen?

A
  • Society treats them positively due to their attractiveness
  • They grew to be more confident and comfortable around people because everyone around them treats them positively
  • They receive more help and cooperation from those around them
  • Hence, they are confident to talk to others and are more sociable
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16
Q

Why do attractive people receive better treatment from society?

A

Society tends to believe attractive people are morally good people, hence they receive better treatment, help and reassurance from others

This adds to their confidence and extraversion

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17
Q

How has the internet impacted romantic relationships?

A

The internet has changed the early stages of a relationship (starting off a relationship)

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18
Q

What is the problem with online dating? (in terms of having options of potential partners to choose from)

A
  • Too many choices
  • When given too many choices, people experience choice overload, in which they avoid making any decision rather than exerting the mental effort required to make a decision
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19
Q

What is the term used to describe when people are given too many choices that they experience a choice overload, in which they avoid making any decision rather than exerting the mental effort required to make a decision (Lyengar, 2010)?

A

Choice paralysis

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20
Q

Who proposed a study on online dating and choice paralysis?

A

Fishman, Lyengar, Kamenica and Simonson (2006)

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21
Q

Describe Fishman et al.’s (2006) study on choice paralysis in speed dating

A
  • Students attended a speed dating event that varied in size from 18 participants to 42 participants
  • As the size of the choice set increased, they said ‘yes’ to fewer potential partners
  • Women who attended speed-dating events at which they met a small number of men (9-14) were over 40% more likely to agree to a follow-up meeting than those who met a larger number of men (15-21)
  • As choice increases, people end up being less satisfied with their ultimate partner choice and more prone to reverse their decision (D’Angelo & Toma, 2017)
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22
Q

As choice increases, people end up being less satisfied with their ultimate partner choice and more prone to reverse their decision (D’Angelo & Toma, 2017)

Why does this occur?

A

Because they compare the different people they meet (potential partners) and wonder what life would be like if they chose a different person

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23
Q

Define objectification in online dating

A

Online dating sites act as a “shopping” website for potential partners

People tend to see pictures and profiles as ‘sales pitches’ and that we reduce people to ‘products’

It is easy to reduce/categorise people on attributes (job, redheads, income) rather than emotional attributes (warmth, friendliness)

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24
Q

What is the problem with online dating? (in terms of constructing profiles and creating profile descriptions)?

A

People often lie or overexaggerate in their personal dating profiles

Thus, when online dating partners meet in real life, one might feel disappointed in their potential partner because their profile descriptions did not meet their real-life attributes

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25
Q

Hitsch, Hortacsu, & Airely (2010) investigated 21,745 users’ dating profiles and compared them to the ‘national average’

What were the findings on the height in peoples’ dating profile descriptions?

A

Both men and women were taller than the national average in their descriptions (1.3 inches for men, 1 inch for women)

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26
Q

Hitsch, Hortacsu, & Airely (2010) investigated 21,745 users’ dating profiles and compared them to the ‘national average’

What were the findings on the weight in peoples’ dating profile descriptions?

A

Women claimed to weigh less than the national average (5.4 pounds for 20-29 age range and an average of 22.9 pounds for 50-59 year group)

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27
Q

Toma, Hancock and Ellison (2008) compared users’ profiles with their actual weight, height and age data with their online profile data

What were the findings?

A
  • 81% had lied about at least one of their characteristics (age, height, weight)
  • 60% lied about weight, 40% about their height, and 19% about their age.
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28
Q

What hypothesis proposes this?

People match with a romantic partner based on the same level of attractiveness

A

The Matching Hypothesis

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29
Q

The matching hypothesis suggests people match with a romantic partner based on the same level of attractiveness

Why is this?

A

People believe it is unrealistic to date someone who is 10x more attractive than them, so they go for someone more attainable

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30
Q

How do individuals know where they are on the attractiveness hierarchy?

A

Feedback loop

1) You ask a bunch of people out on a date, starting with the most attractive

2) If they reject you, you move on to the second most attractive

3) You continue to do this until someone shows reciprocation

4) Based on the feedback you got by asking people of different attractiveness levels on a date, you will be able to know where your position is on the attractiveness hierarchy

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31
Q

Who proposed evidence for the matching hypothesis?

A

Murstien

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32
Q

What did Murstien do in their experiment investigating the matching hypothesis?

A

1) Took photos of 100 faces of 50 real couples

2) Group A were shown a pair of real couples and was asked to rate each member of the couple on attractiveness

3) Group B were presented with the same pictures, but with 2 faces randomly put together (not real couples)

4) Results = Faces of real couples were consistently rated as more alike than faces randomly assigned to couples

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33
Q

Why do gay and lesbian couples differ from heterosexual couples in terms of choosing partners with similar attractiveness, ages and racial backgrounds (similarity)?

A
  • People who are attracted to the same sex are working from a significantly smaller field of eligibles (smaller pool of potential partners)
  • They don’t have much choice of who they can date
  • They tend to compromise, especially in proximity because there are a limited number of gay people compared to straight people
  • Gay people are more willing to go for people from different ethnic backgrounds, ages, etc because they have experienced prejudice before and show a progressive attitude
33
Q

Why do gay and lesbian couples differ from heterosexual couples in terms of choosing partners with similar attractiveness, ages and racial backgrounds (similarity)?

A
  • People who are attracted to the same sex are working from a significantly smaller field of eligibles (smaller pool of potential partners)
  • They don’t have much choice of who they can date
  • They tend to compromise, especially in proximity because there are a limited number of gay people compared to straight people
  • Gay people are more willing to go for people from different ethnic backgrounds, ages, etc because they have experienced prejudice before and show a progressive attitude
34
Q

Revealing information about oneself to another person is important in interpersonal relationships (Rubin, 1973)

This is known as…?

A

Self-disclosure

35
Q

Define self-disclosure

A

Revealing information about oneself to another person

36
Q

When do people self-disclose information about themselves to others?

A

If they see themselves becoming friends or romantic partners with the other person

37
Q

What does the Meta-analysis suggest about self-disclosure (Collins & Miller, 1994)?

A

1) We disclose more to the people we like
2) We like people more after having disclosed to them
3) We like people who disclose more

38
Q

Self-disclosure usually operates according to a …?

A

Norm of reciprocity (at least in the early days of the relationship)

“If I tell you something about me, you have to tell me something about yourself”

39
Q

Self-disclosure is like a “delicate dance”. What does this mean?

A
  • Not enough self-disclosure on a first date makes someone appear cold and unapproachable
  • Too much self-disclosure on a first date makes someone appear over-revealing and odd
40
Q

What things should you not disclose
about yourself on a first date?

A
  • Salary
  • Your relationship history
  • Bad habits
  • Body count
  • TMI personal info (eg. your family member’s death)
41
Q

Who proposed the Three-factor theory of love?

A

Hatfield and Walster

42
Q

What are the 3 factors listed in the three-factor theory of love?

A

1) a state of physiological arousal

2) an appropriate label for that arousal (culturalinfluence)

(3) an appropriate love object

43
Q

Who proposed the bridge study investigating the role of arousal?

A

Dutton & Aron

44
Q

Describe the bridge study investigating the role of arousal

A

1) Male participants crossed a bridge

There were 2 conditions:
Group 1 = Shaky bridge
Group 2 = Safe and wide bridge

2) At the end of the bridge, an attractive female experimenter waited

3) Participants performed the Thematic Apperception Test

Ps were shown an ambiguous picture and were asked to write down a short story in which they comment on how the couple in the picture were thinking and feeling

4) Ps received her telephone number in case of questions

45
Q

Describe the results of the shaky bridge participants in the bridge study investigating the role of arousal

A

Group 1 = Shaky bridge

  • Induced arousal to attraction
  • Described pictures from the thematic apperception test in a more sexual way
  • e.g. The woman was having an affair and suddenly the husband walked in and is threatening to kill her lover
  • More likely to call the attractive female experimenter later and ask to meet up
46
Q

Describe the results of the stable bridge participants in the bridge study investigating the role of arousal

A

Group 2 = Stable and spacious bridge

  • No induced arousal to attraction
  • Described the pictures from the thematic apperception test in a rational, non-sexual way
  • e.g. The couple are arguing about money or the man’s gambling addiction
  • Less likely to call the attractive female experimenter later and ask to meet up
47
Q

What theory attempts to explain what keeps a relationship going?

A

Investment theory

48
Q

Who proposed the investment theory?

A

Rusbult

49
Q

Describe the investment theory of maintaining relationships

A

People decide whether they want to remain or leave the relationship based on their satisfaction with the relationship, the quality of alternative relationships and investments

50
Q

Set of theories: ‘Economic maintenance of relationships (e.g., social exchange theory, equity theory, investment theory)

This is known as…?

A

Investment theory

51
Q

Which theory predicts that there are 3 main variables that predict a couple’s level of commitment to each other?

A

Investment theory

52
Q

What are the 3 main variables that predict a couple’s level of commitment to each other, according to the investment theory?

A

1) Satisfaction
2) Quality of alternatives
3) Investment

53
Q

When does one consider themselves satisfied with their relationship and choose to stay committed to their partners?

A

When the benefits of the relationship (i.e. good sex, company, money, fun) outweigh the cost of the relationship (i.e. arguments, loss of freedom, having to care for another)

54
Q

There are 2 ways to compare the quality of alternatives. What are they?

A

1) Comparison level
2) Comparison level for alternatives

55
Q

Is there a better relationship out there for me?

This is known as…?

a. Satisfaction
b. Investment
c. Quality of alternatives

A

c. Quality of alternatives

56
Q

How happy am I in this relationship?

This is known as…?

a. Satisfaction
b. Investment
c. Quality of alternatives

A

a. Satisfaction

57
Q

How much have I already put into this relationship?

This is known as…?

a. Satisfaction
b. Investment
c. Quality of alternatives

A

b. Investment

58
Q

There are 2 ways to compare the quality of alternatives. One is the comparison level

Describe the comparison level

A

Comparing current levels of satisfaction with previous relationships

Simply = They don’t feel as happy or they feel happier in their current relationship compared to their previous relationships

59
Q

There are 2 ways to compare the quality of alternatives. One is the comparison level for alternatives

Describe the comparison level for alternatives

A

Comparing the current relationship to other possible relationships on offer

Simply = They wonder how different their life would be if they get with other people

60
Q

Comparing the current relationship to other possible relationships on offer

Simply = They wonder how different their life would be if they get with other people

This is known as…?

A

Comparison level for alternatives

61
Q

Comparing current levels of satisfaction with previous relationships

Simply = They don’t feel as happy or they feel happier in their current relationship compared to their previous relationships

This is known as…?

A

Comparison level

62
Q

Level of resources put into a relationship which increases the costs of withdrawing from the relationship.

e.g.
- Financial (e.g., money, house)
- Temporal (e.g., been with him/her 10 years)
- Emotional (e.g., self-disclosure, welfare of the kids)

This is known as…?

A

Investment

63
Q

Describe investment in a relationship.

A

When the level of resources put into a relationship increases the costs of withdrawing from the relationship

e.g.
- Financial (e.g., money, house)
- Temporal (e.g., been with him/her 10 years)
- Emotional (e.g., self-disclosure, welfare of the kids)

64
Q

According to the relationship commitment theory (Rusbuilt, 1983), the more satisfied a person is with their current relationship, the (more/less) likely they are to remain in that relationship

A

More likely

65
Q

According to the relationship commitment theory (Rusbuilt, 1983), the less satisfied a person is with their current relationship, the (more/less) likely they are to commit to that relationship

A

Less likely

66
Q

According to the relationship commitment theory (Rusbuilt, 1983), the lower the quality of alternatives in their current relationship, the (more/less) likely they are to commit to that relationship

A

More likely

67
Q

According to the relationship commitment theory (Rusbuilt, 1983), the higher the quality of alternatives in their current relationship, the (more/less) likely they are to commit to that relationship

A

Less likely

68
Q

According to the relationship commitment theory (Rusbuilt, 1983), the more prior investments made in their current relationship, the (more/less) likely they are to commit to that relationship

A

More likely

69
Q

According to the relationship commitment theory (Rusbuilt, 1983), the fewer prior investments made in their current relationship, the (more/less) likely they are to commit to that relationship

A

Less likely

70
Q

Why are satisfaction, quality of alternatives and investment factors not reliable predictors for commitment in a relationship?

A

Abused women stay even if they have low satisfaction because they have limited/poor-quality alternatives (less education, no way of supporting themselves)

Most of the time, they have invested more in their relationship to be able to leave (long time, children)

71
Q

Lower quality of alternatives and greater investment size predicted:

a. Less commitment + Less frequent leaving behaviour
b. More commitment + Less frequent leaving behaviour
c. More commitment + More frequent leaving behaviour
d. Less commitment + More frequent leaving behaviour

A

b. More commitment + Less frequent leaving behaviour

72
Q

Who proposed 4 factors that characterise the strategies that people employ when their relationships break down?

A

Baxter

73
Q

What were the 4 factors Baxter proposed that characterise the strategies that people employ when relationships break down?

A

1) Withdrawal/Avoidance
2) Manipulation
3) Positive-tone strategies
4) Open confrontation

74
Q

Withdrawal/Avoidance is one of the 4 factors Baxter proposed that characterise the strategies that people employ when relationships break down.

Explain Withdrawal/Avoidance

A
  • Gentle way to avoid the offer from the other party
  • Only works with casual relationships to avoid conflict
  • Not answering texts or calls, ghosting
75
Q

Manipulation is one of the 4 factors Baxter proposed that characterise the strategies that people employ when relationships break down.

Explain Manipulation

A
  • Instead of telling your partner you want to break up, you emotionally manipulate them into initiating the breakup with you
  • To make it seem like you’re not the bad person
76
Q

Positive-tone strategies are one of the 4 factors Baxter proposed that characterise the strategies that people employ when relationships break down.

Explain Positive-tone strategies

A
  • Coming clean
  • “It’s me, not you”
  • Positive, to not hurt the other person
77
Q

Open confrontation is one of the 4 factors Baxter proposed that characterise the strategies that people employ when relationships break down.

Explain Open confrontation

A
  • Being completely honest with your partner that you’re not happy with the relationship
  • Coming clean and initiating the break-up yourself
78
Q

Instead of telling your partner you want to break up, you emotionally manipulate them into initiating the breakup with you (to make it seem like you’re not the bad person)

This is known as…?

A

Manipulation

79
Q

Being completely honest with your partner that you’re not happy with the relationship as well as coming clean and initiating the break-up yourself.

This is known as…?

A

Open confrontation

80
Q

This is a gentle way to avoid the offer from the other party. It only works with casual relationships to avoid conflict and involves not answering texts or calls, ghosting

This is known as…?

A

Withdrawal/Avoidance

81
Q

This involves coming clean with your partner and saying “it’s me, not you” and other positive tones in order to not hurt the other person

This is known as….?

A

Positive-tone strategies

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