P2 - Relationships - Explanations for why relationships change and end

Question 1

what is the issue for why relationships change and end

Answer 1

preventative factors can be implemented, for example marriage counsellors.

also a debate over whether these factors are biological, cognitive or sociocultural

Question 2

what did Duck 2007 propose of a relationship breakdown

Answer 2

intra-psychic stage = internal thoughts for relationship dissatisfaction

dyadic = confronts the partner and voices dissatisfaction, lots of emotions and they either make it work or split

social = starts involving family and friends, more difficult to mend and people take sides.

grave dressing = each person constructs their version of why their relationship broke down, minimising their faults and maximsing the other person.

ressurection stage = people move beyond the pain and distress and experience personal growth

Question 3

what research do we look at for why relationships change and end

Answer 3

fatal attraction hypothesis = felmlee 1995

four horsemen of relationship apocalypse = gottman and levenson 2000

Question 4

what is the fatal attraction hypothesis

Answer 4

what we used to consider a benefit is now considered a cost

Question 5

what is the aim of felmlee 1995

Answer 5

to investigate fatal attraction hypothesis

Question 6

what is the procedure of felmlee 1995

Answer 6

self report method for 301 college students

list the qualities that first attracted them to their most recent partner and the qualities they least liked

Question 7

what are the findings of felmlee 1995

Answer 7

88 instances of what was ‘fatal attractions’ , defined as relationships that developed on the basis of fascinating qualities that later lead to the dissolution of the relationship

fun to foolish - fun and entertaining = immature, foolish

strong to domineering - confident = bossy and arrogant

spontaneous to unpredictable = spontaneous = unreliable

Question 8

what are the conclusions of Felmlee 1995

Answer 8

a relationship termination could be due to fatal attraction

Question 9

critical thinking for felmlee 1995

Answer 9

• self report
• only college students in US

+ large sample size

Question 10

what is the four horsemen of relationship appocalypse theory

Answer 10

metaphor dictating end of times = used to describe comminication styles

1. criticism = criticising partner, verbally or emotionally attacking, makes victim feel hurt and rejected
2. contempt = treating with disrespect, sarcasm, call them names = moral superiority
3. defensiveness = typically a repsonse to criticism, we fish for excuses anf play the innocent victim = blaming your partner
4. stonewalling = listener withdraws from the interaction, tuning out, acting busy

Question 11

what is the aim of gottman and levenson 2000

Answer 11

to investigate whether its possible to create a mathematics of love by analysing patterns of communication

Question 12

what is the procedure for gottman and levenson 2000

Answer 12

79 hetersoexual couples in the US did surveys
controlled obersvation
quantitative methods - coded for positive/negative/neutral communication

researchers followed up 4-6 years later and then 14 years later

Question 13

what were the findings for gottman and levenson 2000

Answer 13

predicted divorce 14 years later with 93% accuracy

presence of the four horsemen was a strong indicator of early divorce

Question 14

what were the conclusions from gottman and levenson 2000

Answer 14

communication patterns play a significant role in the maintenance/breakdown of relationships

Question 15

critical thinking for gottman and levenson 2000

Answer 15

• cultural bias
• deterministic

+ useful for couples therapy
+ triangulation
+ validity