PSY313 UNIT 3 LEC 1 Flashcards
What characterizes friendships compared to family or romantic relationships?
Friendships are voluntary and informal, with no set rules or boundaries, unlike family relationships which are involuntary and less informal, and romantic relationships which are voluntary but not informal.
What is essential for a friendship to exist?
Reciprocity is required, meaning both parties believe they are gaining something from the relationship, highlighting a give-and-take dynamic.
Describe different friendship styles.
Independent (few friendships, largely self-reliant), Discerning (few but close friendships), Acquisitive (many friends, easily forms new friendships, social butterfly).
Is having many friends necessary to avoid loneliness?
No, having friendships that match your personal friendship style is more important for satisfaction and avoiding loneliness.
What are the stages of friendship development?
Acquisition (meeting and connecting over commonalities), Building (sharing more and deepening connection), Continuation (maintains as long as reciprocity exists), Dissolution (gradual fading), and Ending (abrupt end).
How do most friendships end?
Most friendships fade away gradually; abrupt endings are rare in adulthood.
How do friendships impact loneliness?
Friendships form a crucial support system that helps prevent loneliness, which is different from simply having people around (which doesn’t necessarily prevent loneliness).
What is dyadic withdrawal and its impact on friendships?
As people age and enter long-term romantic relationships, they often retain only those friends who get along with their partner, leading to a decrease in the number of friendships.
How are friendships in older age related to well-being?
In older age, friendships are closely linked to well-being and self-esteem, even though the number of friendships tends to decrease.
What is socioemotional selectivity theory (SST)?
SST suggests that as people age, their life goals shift from seeking information and new experiences to prioritizing emotional stability and maintaining positive relationships due to a changing perception of time left in life.
How does the perception of time influence personal goals according to SST?
When people feel like they don’t have much time left, they focus more on feeling good and being with people they care about, instead of chasing new goals or experiences. This happens with older adults, but also with younger people in similar situations (like serious illness).
What is positivity bias in older adults?
Older adults tend to remember positive information better than negative, focus more on positive aspects, and have longer gaze durations on positive facial expressions, reflecting a shift towards positive emotional experiences.
How do older adults handle potential conflicts compared to younger adults?
Older adults are more likely to avoid engagement in conflicts and manage their emotions better, leading to shorter durations of bad moods and less engagement in conflict situations.
How do conflict resolution strategies differ between older and younger adults?
Older adults often use compliments to balance criticism during conflicts, maintaining a more positive view of their spouse, whereas younger adults tend to focus on immediate problems and negative aspects.
How do older adults’ decision-making processes differ from those of younger adults?
Older adults experience less buyer’s remorse and are less likely to regret decisions, often thinking more about positive outcomes when making choices.
What is the positivity bias related to, and when does it not apply?
Positivity bias relies on active control of attention. That means the brain has to intentionally focus on positive information and ignore negative stuff. This takes mental effort.
When someone is doing a divided attention task (like multitasking), their brain is busy handling multiple things at once. Because of this, they don’t have enough mental resources left to actively filter out negative information or focus on the positive — so the positivity bias disappears.
So the bias goes away not because people stop caring about positivity, but because their brain is too occupied to choose where to focus.
What is singlehood, and what are common misconceptions about it?
Singlehood refers to individuals who are single, typically not in long-term romantic relationships. Common misconceptions include negative stereotypes such as being weird, grouchy, or having mental health issues, none of which are supported by evidence.
What does research suggest about the effects of being single?
Research indicates no inherent negative effects from being single. Those who are single by choice do not generally experience decreased well-being or happiness. Issues arise primarily among those who are single but wish they were not, leading to increased loneliness and reduced well-being.
How does marital status correlate with longevity?
Studies suggest that people who are married tend to live longer than those who are not married.
What is assortative mating and its role in love?
Assortative mating is the theory that people fall in love due to choosing partners who are similar to themselves, which is observationally consistent. It involves seeking out similar features in potential partners.
What are the components of love relationships?
Love relationships are characterized by passion, intimacy, and commitment.
What is the definition of marriage in Canada?
In Canada, marriage is defined as the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others.
What trends are observed in the age of first marriage and marriage rates in Canada?
The average age of first marriage is rising (33 for men, 32 for women). 66% of Canadians are married, and about one-third of same-sex couples are married. The age of first marriage historically was high, dropped, and is now increasing again.
What demographic factors influence living arrangements in older age?
More men live with spouses than women, primarily because women tend to live longer than men.
How is marriage related to quality of life?
Marriage is generally associated with a happier life and better quality of life, though it is also noted that some marriages are unhappy and may lead to divorce.
What trends have been observed in same-gender marriages since they became legal in Canada?
The number of same-gender couples increased by 60% in the ten years following the legalization of same-gender marriage in Canada, compared to a 10% increase in opposite-gender couples.
What are some challenges faced by older LGBTQ individuals?
Older LGBTQ individuals, who grew up during times of significant stigmatization, are less likely to disclose their sexual orientation, report more negative experiences post-disclosure, are less likely to seek medical services, and generally suffer poorer health outcomes.
How do same-gender marriages compare to opposite-gender marriages?
Research shows that same-gender marriages are mostly similar to opposite-gender marriages but feature more equitable sharing of chores and childcare responsibilities.
What impact did the HIV crisis have on the memories of older LGBTQ individuals?
Older individuals who lived through the HIV crisis have few ‘flashbulb memories’ of the events because the crisis was a frequent and routine part of their everyday experiences.
How does assortative mating contradict the idea that opposites attract?
Assortative mating suggests that people are more likely to choose partners who are similar to themselves, contradicting the popular notion that opposites attract.
What is social exchange theory in the context of romantic relationships?
Social exchange theory posits that relationships are maintained based on a perceived balance where the benefits outweigh the costs, and there is a give-and-take dynamic that sustains the relationship.
What did Huston’s (2009) longitudinal research reveal about marriage satisfaction?
Couples who were happily married after 13 years showed higher levels of affection and lower levels of negative behavior in the first year of marriage compared to those who did not remain married.
What does socioemotional selectivity theory predict about marital satisfaction in older age?
As people age, they are more likely to recognize the positive aspects of their relationships, engage in less conflict, and prefer spending time with their spouses, leading to high marital satisfaction among older couples.
What defines a common law relationship in Canada?
A common law relationship is a long-term romantic partnership where two people live together in the same dwelling but are not legally married. These relationships are regulated provincially.
What percentage of Canadians are in common law relationships?
About 20% of Canadians are in common law relationships, with the highest prevalence in Quebec and the Northwest Territories
What are some reasons people choose to live in common law relationships?
Reasons include not wanting to be married or waiting to get married.
What is the cohabitation effect?
The cohabitation effect is the observed greater likelihood of divorce among couples who cohabitate before marriage. This statistic is influenced significantly by serial cohabitation.
How does age relate to the stability of common law unions?
The fastest growing group of common law unions is among those aged 65-69, and these unions are more likely to last than those formed by younger groups.
What is the current divorce rate in Canada, and why might it be misleading?
Approximately 12% of Canadians are divorced or separated. Divorce statistics can be misleading because the people getting married in any given year are not the same ones getting divorced, and overall marriage rates are declining.
What is “grey divorce,” and why has it been on the rise?
Grey divorce refers to the increasing trend of seniors getting divorced, particularly noted from 1981 to 2011, facilitated by legal changes that made it easier to get divorced.
How does divorce impact children compared to high-conflict households?
While divorce has negative connotations, children tend to have better outcomes living in two separate households than in a single high-conflict household.
What are the widowhood statistics for older adults in Canada?
Nearly 50% of women and 20% of men aged 65+ are widowed
What are common consequences faced by widowed individuals?
Widowed individuals may experience increased depression, stress, financial burdens, and health declines due to poor diet and exercise.
How do men and women differ in their responses to widowhood?
Men experience greater negative outcomes and are more likely to feel isolated after the death of a spouse, but are also more likely to re-partner.
What is the general response of women to long-term distress following the death of a spouse?
The majority of women show little long-term distress following the death of a spouse, although this must be considered within broader social and personal contexts.
What factors influence whether children decrease marital satisfaction?
Factors include the duration of the relationship, whether the pregnancy was planned, work responsibilities, the newborn’s temperament, relationship with parents, and attachment styles
How does parenthood impact marital satisfaction according to studies?
Parenthood often coincides with a dip in marital satisfaction, which shows a U-pattern over time—starting high, decreasing, and then increasing again as couples age
What is the “empty nest syndrome,” and how does it affect parents today?
Empty nest syndrome, once seen as a stressful period when children leave home, now often results in increased marital satisfaction. However, about 20% of women experience significant distress, particularly those with strong parental identities or limited social networks.
How does being a grandparent affect well-being?
Being a grandparent generally enhances well-being, but lack of access to grandchildren can lead to depression, grief, and poor health. Approximately 12% of grandparents are primary caregivers, which can increase stress and depression.
How does the parent-child relationship evolve as both age?
Good adult parent-child relationships boost well-being and decrease loneliness and depression among older adults. Parents often provide substantial support to adult children, which can positively affect their own mental health, especially when children marry or have children themselves.
