Lectures 1 - 5 (6 was Q+A) Flashcards
What do quality social relationships and support =
LOWER mortality risk
Those that reported social support were 20% more likely to survive
Is marriage more beneficial to men or women?
Men, most social support comes from spouse
Stable and supportive relationships =
- Belonging & connection
- Buffer impact of stress
- Promote better physical health
- Facilitate personal growth
Dysfunctional or conflictual relationships =
- Rejection, grief, loneliness
- Risk of psychological and physical health problems
- Interfere with personal growth and fufillment
- Cultivate attachment insecurities
Attachment Theory (Bowlby, 1969)
We are born with a working model that stores knowledge about our relationships.
Guides our behaviour when we want proximity and closeness with others.
SECURE attachment
It is easy to be emotionally close to others. Comfortable depending on others, not worried about being alone.
LOW on anxiety/avoidance
ANXIOUS (preoccupied/ambivalent)
Completely emotionally intimate, I often find others are reluctant to get as close as I want. Uncomfortable being without a close relationship.
AVOIDANT (dismissive/fearful)
Comfortable without close emotional relationship, important to feel independent. Prefer not to depend on others, or have others depend on me.
Action facilitating SUPPORT
Information = advice, suggestions, planning
Tangible = offers to help
Nurturant SUPPORT
Esteem = complimenting ability, encouragement, praise
Emotional = empathy, expressions of love, affection and care
Negative SUPPORT
Blame, minimizing, invalidation, and controlling behaviors
SUPPORT + Relationship Outcomes
Nurturant = greater relationship satisfaction, greater feelings of trust
Action-facilitating = mixed, beliefs that the provider is reliable
Negative = lower relationship satisfaction, greater negativity during conflict, greater risk of dissolution
SUPPORT + Recipient Outcomes
Nurturant = positive mood/self-esteem, better diet, better immune functioning
Action-facilitating = greater perceptions that resources outweigh demands, LOWER perceptions of the SELF as capable
Negative = LOWER positive mood/self-esteem, increases in negative mood, worse sleep quality
What is effective support?
It fits the individual needs and preferences.
Providing TOO much support can threaten self-esteem or be intrusive, or increase feelings of indebtedness
What are the two types of INVISIBLE Support?
- Support provided goes UNDETECTED by the support recipient (cleaning the house when no one is home)
- Support provided is not interpreted as overt support (trying to help your partner by giving an example of a time you had a similar issue)
Example Study: Bar exam
35 days, one partner is preparing for NY bar exam.
Tested for lagged effect
Someone could be feeling higher depressive symptoms and seeking more support.
VISIBLE SUPPORT
Days in which partner reported providing support and recipient said they received support = LESS effective; no changes in depression next day
INVISIBLE SUPPORT
Days in which partner reported providing support but recipient said they did not receive = greater reduction in depression next day
How can we circumvent the costs of support?
- Indirect advice (providing support in an indirect way); NINJA
- Undetected support (do something that the other person doesn’t notice)
Interpreting Support Graphs
If you see the data point below the line, it means that depression DECREASED the next day
If you see the data point above the line, it means that depression INCREASED the next day
When recipient was highly distressed, VISIBLE support was beneficial
When recipient was in low distress, VISIBLE support was costly
What are the long term BENEFITS of invisible support?
Planting the seed, ‘inception’ & ownership
Facilitating individuals own effective emotion regulation
