lesson 10 - love and friendships

Question 1

the role of attraction in friendships

Answer 1

• need to affiliate, fundamental for psychological wellbeing, a necessary first step in the formation of a social relationship.
• attraction is necessary for friendships to form, and can be a precursor for intimate relationships

Question 2

factors involved in friendships (5)

Answer 2

• evolution and attraction
• ideals
• similarity
• proximity
• familiarity

Question 3

evolution and attraction

Answer 3

Reproductive fitness - cues (e.g., physical health, youthful appearance, body, and facial symmetry).
Biological and physical characteristics are key to initial attraction.

Question 4

the search for ideals - 3 (Fletcher et al, 2004)

Answer 4

Warmth-trustworthiness – showing care and intimacy towards the other person.

Vitality-attractiveness – signs of health and reproductive fitness.

Status-resources – socially prominent, financially sound.

Question 5

proximity & relationships

Answer 5

living close by is important in the early stages of forming friendships

Festinger, Schachter & Back (1950) – more likely to choose as friends those living in same building, same floor. Apartments that shared a staircase, more likely to report being friends with those individuals. Makes contact more likely – more accessible, less effort to interact with these individuals. Proximity can lead to more proximity.

Question 6

familiarity & relationships

Answer 6

feel more comfortable with certain people so you see them more. Mere exposure effect can facilitate liking and attraction towards another individual.

Question 7

similarity of attitudes & relationships

Answer 7

more likely to surround ourselves with people who hold similar beliefs and attitudes to us. This is because agreement of our perceptions can be seen as rewarding. More likely to like people who agree with our opinions.

Question 8

self disclosure

Answer 8

social penetration theory: Altman & Taylor, 1973
“sharing of intimate information and feelings with another person” (Hogg & Vaughan, 2014, p. 547).
*Disclosing personal info & sensitive and responsive to partner’s disclosures – central processes in developing & maintaining relationships. Essential for long term relationships. Important for building trust in a relationship. Mutual disclosure helps deepen intimacy in an existing relationship. Superficial communication –> in-depth communication as the relationship becomes more familiar. In terms of feelings, ambitions, attitudes. Being sensitive and responsive to the other person’s information is important.

Question 9

difference between love and liking

Answer 9

love does not equal liking (Rubin, 1973)

Question 10

categories of love

Answer 10

passionate/romantic love
companionate love

Question 11

what is passionate love

Answer 11

Intense emotional state (e.g., think about you all the time, want to spend all their time with you, major focus of your life)
Feel more positive, increases self-esteem.

Question 12

what is companionate love?

Answer 12

Less intense than passionate love
Feelings of deep friendly affection and deep attachment.

Question 13

Hatfield & Walster 1981 3 factor theory of passionate/romantic love

Answer 13

• Cultural concept of love – culture determinant, past learning of the concept of love.
• Appropriate person to love.
• Emotional arousal, self-labelled ‘love’, felt when interacting / thinking about appropriate person.
• Love is a product of these 3 interacting variables.

Question 14

Dutton & Aron, 1974 - bridges

Answer 14

• Male participants crossed either:
• A wobbly suspension bridge high over a canyon (arousing suspension bridge), or
• A lower solid bridge above a small rivulet (non fear-arousing bridge).
• Attractive female researcher approached the participants and administered a questionnaire and gave contact details if they had any questions about the study.
• Participants on fear-arousing suspension bridge – greater tendency to contact researcher.
• Arousal felt by ps who crossed the bridge was transferred to the researcher, ps felt more attracted. This can be explained by the excitation transfer theory.

Question 15

Stemberg, 1986 – Triangular theory of love

Answer 15

• Intimacy – feelings of warmth, closeness, connection, and sharing
• Passion – drive that leads to romance, physical attraction
• Commitment – to maintain relationship (cognitive component, decision to make a long term commitment to someone)

Question 16

what affects how love is experienced?

Answer 16

• Amount’ of love experienced depends on absolute strength of the components (intimacy, passion, commitment)
• ‘Type’ of love experienced depends on their strengths relative to each other, different combinations of components impacts different feelings of love felt towards other people. Different variations of features = different types of love.

Question 17

various combinations of love

Answer 17

no love = none of the features
liking = intimacy
romantic love = passion, intimacy
companionate love = commitment, intimacy
consummate love = passion, commitment, intimacy

Question 18

theories of attraction

Answer 18

• social exchange theory
• equity theory

Question 19

social exchange theory

Answer 19

Relationship satisfaction depends on the costs and rewards of the relationship. Higher benefits e.g., laughter vs costs, e.g., compromise are more likely to be seen as more enduring. Maximise benefits, minimise costs. Relationships are seen as unsatisfactory when the cost of the relationship outweighs the reward.

Depends on comparison levels – standard which all relationships are judged. People’s expectations about the levels of costs and rewards of relationships, based on previous experience with relationships. If the outcome is positive and exceeds comparison levels, they can perceive the relationship as satisfying, person seen as attractive in the relationship. Evaluation and expectations about the outcomes they would experience in an alternative situation (e.g., another relationship). If the alternatives are worse, are more inclined to stay in the relationships. Determining relationship satisfaction and commitment.

Question 20

equity theory

Answer 20

People strive for equity (fairness)
Most satisfied with a relationship where the cost reward ratio is the same for both parties.
Ratio between cost and benefits, inputs and outputs is similar for both parties.
Give and take is equal for both parties.