Personal Relationships and Sexuality Flashcards
Two ways of communicating with others
Talking and listening
Non-verbal communication
Talking and Listening
Perhaps the biggest challenge is communicating emotions effectively.
Listening is more than just waiting for the other person to stop talking.
-important to understand the other person’s feelings and motivation
-consider asking questions in efforts to better understand what the person talking means
-also considering reflecting on your own role as a listener
Non-verbal Communication
Accounts for more than 90% of communication.
Includes eye contact, facial expression, gestures, posture.
Important to interpret non-verbal language so potential issues can be dealt with before they spike.
Forming Relationships
Start by understanding ourselves.
-self-esteem helps us to respect and value ourselves enabling us to be true selves in relationships
-better, longer lasting relationships
-lower self-esteem and high neuroticism linked to more jealousy in relationships
Friendships
The bond of society.
Provide happiness, connection to the larger world, solace in times of trouble or need, and support and nurturance.
We have the capacity to meaningfully connect with about 150 people at a given time.
Important qualities in friendships include honesty, acceptance, dependability, empathy, and loyalty.
“Hooking Up”
Sexual activity with a casual partner who may be a friend or a stranger.
When engaging in casual sex, many young women report…
-persistent depressive symptoms
-shame and self-blame due largely to not knowing about their partner’s past sexual history which can lead to potential health risks and lack of future contact
Young men, when engaging in casual sex report…
-disappointment in choosing an unattractive or undesirable partner
Overall, men report more positive reactions and fewer negative reactions to hooking up.
Dating
An occasion during which two people share their time.
In a study with 500 heterosexual cisgender undergraduate students, ~40% reported using a dating app (though probably higher now).
Another study looked at dating protocol and beliefs amongst undergraduates, finding…
-positive perception of sexual expression for males and females
-sex brought couples closer together
-sex did not have to be the central reason to date
-it was normal for men to initiate sex, and normal for women to wait for men to initiate dates
-pressure to have sex when one partner was not ready was seen in a negative way
-both males and females saw women and men conveying sexual desires as positive.
Intimate Relationships
Intimacy refers to the open, trusting share of close, confidential thoughts and feelings.
Requires time and nurturing.
A process of revealing rather than hiding.
Often includes a sexual relationship.
The Science of Romantic Love
A Psychological View
A Biochemical View
A Psychological View of Love
Love viewed as a triangle involving intimacy, passion, commitment.
Sternberg identified six types of love…
-liking/intimacy = intimacy friends share
-infatuation/passion = passion that stems from physical and emotional attraction
-romantic love = a combination of intimacy and passion
-compassionate love = a deep, emotional bond in a relationship that may have had romantic components
-fatuous love = combination of passion and commitment in two people who lack a deep emotional intimacy
-consummate love = a combination of passion, intimacy and commitment over time.
A Biochemical View of Love
We tend to think of the heart as the organ tied to love, but the brain is also important.
Love sets off neurotransmitters, causing a chemical chain reaction, and includes the flushing of skin, sweating palms, and rapid breathing.
Images of a romantic partner activates production of dopamine and norepinephrine (a natural high).
Long-term this high is replaced by endorphins which help produce feelings of well-being, security, and tranquility.
