Interpersonal Relationships Flashcards
Proximity
Schacter & Back, 1950s.
Looks at two reasons behind why people like each other: familiarity and availability.
Availability - STUDY
Multiple studies include:
Dating in student halls and apartment blocks showed consistency in dating and location.
Using phones to track GPS and linked to who people dated.
How relationships end after uni.
Show people videos of people and give location - closer more attractive despite content of video
Similarity
Like people similar in views on world, interests and attitudes. Often overtakes proximity. Due to it being difficult to spend time with people we often disagree with. Supported by risk of divorce increasing as age gap increases as more dissimilar.
Limited by exceptions as many couples differ in age and views and physical features but have long term relationships.
Similarity - STUDY
Sprecher, 1998.
Showed people start with people they are similar to however over time both chance and usually happens together which predicts success in long term.
Fatal Attraction
Felmlee, 1995.
Characterises we immediately like about someone turn out to be ones we dislike in long term. Way things start are not always how they progress. Examples:
Nice to passive.
Outgoing to over the top.
Strong to stubborn.
Caring to clinging.
Limited by the lack of study as can only be studied by asking questions in which answers are not always fully reflective of reality.
Repulsion Hypothesis
Opposite to similarity hypothesis. People are repelled by those who are very dissimilar. Tend to date anyone not in this category. Limited by theory that successful relationships can occur from a slow burn of liking in which people dislike someone when first meeting but have a successful relationship as immediate anxiety is removed.
Reinforcement Affect Model
Ruling out anyone dissimilar. Based on concept of people associating positive emotions with receiving good feedback and relate it to people it comes from so we like those people more.
Balance Theory
Need to maintain equilibrium with people by being around those who mostly agree with our views. Being constantly challenged becomes difficult so we avoid this. Limited by the exceptions such as in the workplace.
Reinforcement Theory
We enjoy being around those people we have positive associations with and continue to want to spend time with them after the positive association has happened.
Quantifying Love
Difficult to quantify as similar to liking. Same physiological effects such as quickened heart rate. Studies therefore centre around questions and surveys.
Types of Love Theory
Steinberg.
Proposed three types: passion, intimacy and commitment. Perfectly successful relationship requires being in the middle of all three but this rarely happens and instead people move between the three. Experience of love can depend on multiple factors such as age as passion decreases with age but also personality and attachment types.
Love - Gender Differences
Men fall in love quicker and focus on physical aspects more.
Women focus on intimacy and disclose fears and weaknesses more.
Could be products of society rather than actual gender differences e.g men told not to share emotion.
Maintaining relationships
Requires physical contact however more recently has become possible to rely on other communication due to technology. Face to face interaction no longer essential.
Breakups - Factors
Levinger, 1980.
Suggested four factors which contribute to breakups.
Possibility of a new life.
Alternative people.
Expectation of failure.
Lack of commitment.
Supported by balance theory as these could lead to not being in equilibrium.
Breakups - Reactions
Rusbult & Zembrodt, 1985.
Suggested during breakups people either:
Stay loyal or neglect.
Voice concerns or exit.
Limit: cannot be studied as it is qualitative and would be unethical as would have to force people to breakup so can only use post breakup accounts which may not be accurate.
