Love and relationships (evaluation) Flashcards
Walster computer dance study -
Found in 376 males and 376 females. When arrived 4 independent judges assessed their physical attractiveness. Asked to fill in a lengthy questionnaire and they were led the questionnaire would be used for computer pairing for their matched pairs but really they were drawn randomly. The dance was held two days later and they were asked to comment on their date with a questionnaire what did it show? It showed the more attractive people were preferred from their date and the less attractive people weren’t. This might argue against the matching hypothesis and we actually try and keep the most attractive partner but 6 months later they were asked if they were still dating their partner and those who were still dating were much more likely too if they had similar levels of attractiveness.
Cultural differences in attraction -
Cunningham found female features of large eyes, prominent cheekbones, small nose etc were rated as highly attractive from white hispanic and Asian males whereas Korean and American students judged them of trustworthy and them being mature and friendly suggesting the role that certain attractiveness vary differently.
Sprecher found what about self disclosure research -
Found in a study of 50 dating couples the overall disclosure was a predictive level of how long relationships lasted and those with higher could stay longer as much as 4 years. Suggests its importance
Sprecher key study research of self disclosure -
Undergraduate students took part in self disclosure tasks over skype. Two conditions one reciprocal where they took turns disclosing and asking questions and non-reciprocal where one disclosed and one asked questions for a long period of time individuals in the reciprocal condition reported closer liking and feelings than those in the non-reciprocal condition.
Cultural differences in self disclosure -
Westerns engage in more self disclosure than non-westerners, such as Americans disclose more than Japanese people. For example research found that Japanese women prefer lower levels of disclosure compared to Japanese men and this is seen the opposite in Western cultures, suggesting the importance of self disclosure as a feature of attraction is varied across cultures and it cannot be assumed such variations of disclosure may lead to physical attraction and the formation of a relationship.
Kerchoff and Davis test of their own model -
Tested their model of a longitudinal study, each couple of the 94 students were asked to complete several questionnaires to the degree of whether they shared similar attitudes and values. The findings divided them into short term relationships less than 18 months and long term of more than 18 months. Short term valued similarities in attitudes and values and was the most significant on how close they felt and long term focused on the ability to meet each others needs, this supports the stages of the filter theory.
Questioning the assumption of the first stage of filter theory -
Suggests we are attracted to someone because they are similar in attitudes and beliefs but some evidence questions this for example Davis and Rusbult identified an attitude alignment effect in long term relationships
Problem with social exchange is the idea of what constitutes a cost or profit in the sense of an individual -
For example the idea that a the constant need of love and affection may be seen as a benefit to one thus keeping them in a relationship for satisfaction however some may class it as irritating. Can also be used for equity theory.
Social exchange theory key study of Schmitt and Kurdek -
Investigated the importance of determining relationship quality in 185 couples this compromised of heterosexual and same-sex couples and two other couples and they found that the greater level of satisfaction was associated with the perception of many benefits of the current relationship and seeing alternatives to the current relationship as less attractive therefore in all couples it supports the idea of the comparison level and the perception of receiving satisfactory are essential for maintaining a good relationship.
Key study of equity theory of Stafford and Canary -
Interested to see whether equity and satisfaction predicted
Cultural differences in equity theory -
Not as important given in non-western cultures, in Western cultures they found that in all marriages that relationships should be equitable, however Jamaican women especially suggested that they feel least equitable in a relationships therefore there just may be different norms in countries.
Gender differences in equity theory -
Both men and women are not equally affected by inequity commonly women are tended to perceive themselves as more under-benefited in relationships and when more women are more over benefited they tend to feel a sense of guilt and needing of change found by Sprecher suggesting differences in the way equity between genders differs therefore does it always need to be balanced?
Key study for Rusbults model -
Carried out a meta-analysis where the studies explored the components of the investment model produced a sample of over 11,000 people and from 5 countries. Across all studies the satisfaction level, commitment and quality of alternatives were highly correlational with relationship commitment.
Problems with measuring the variables of the investment model -
It is hard to measure all the variables in the investment model, however Rusbult developed the investment model scale to overcome the problem it has shown to have high reliability and validity of the measurement even to a wide range of populations and allows an improvement of the theory in total however the problem is it still uses self report data (social desirability bias)
