Relationship Development Flashcards
What are exchange relationships
Where people exchange rewards in order to receive benefits in return
What is cost reward ratio
Liking for another is determined by calculating what it will cost to be reinforced by other person
What are communal relationships
People reward partner out of direct concern to show caring
What is interdependence
Situation in which each person’s thoughts emotions and behaviours influence those of other people
What is a close relationship
Strong and frequent interdependence in many other domains of life
What is intimacy
+ve emotional bond which includes understanding and support
What is commitment
Combined forces that hold partners together in enduring relationship
What are attachment styles
People’s basic securely attached, avoidant or anxious orientation towards. Others in close relationships
What is social support
Emotional and physical coping resources provided by other people
How do we form new relationships
Initial feelings of attraction based on physical attractiveness, similarity and interaction
How can physical attractiveness form attraction to liking
- symmetrical faces are a biological basis for attractiveness
- prototypical faces are more attractive; closer to the mental prototype of a face and therefore more familiar and easier to process
Physical cues that men look for in attraction to liking
- youth and fertility: facial femininity linked to higher oestrogen levels
- look for features associated with reproductive fertility
Attractive incentives that women look for in men
- women prefer men to be older, look for financial stability, and athletic strong physical appearance and health as unhealthy mate are less likely to provide
- testosterone suppresses immune system which is not seen as +very as only well adapted males can tolerate high levels of this
What is the matching phenomenon
- where people tend to be attracted to others who are on the same level of attractiveness as themselves
- matched couples have longer relationships
- people compensate for their looks in other ways such as humour
Evidence of the matching phenomenon
Studies using ‘lonely hearts’ advertisements
- though these give no indication of how successful people are in attracting mate
- show what attractive incentives women and men look for in each other
How can similarity create liking
- we view anything connected to the self as +ve
- people who are similar tend to attract each other ‘birds of a feather’
- it signals familiarity which leads to liking through mere exposure effect
Signals connectedness as those who are similar to us validate our beliefs and attitudes
How can interaction increase liking
- we like others who have +very interactions
- it makes others familiar
- helps us feel more connected as when people interact they often mimic mannerisms
What is the process for mutual reinforcement of liking, similarity, interaction and attractiveness
- Similarity encourages interaction
- More we interact, more similarities we find
- More interact, more attractive person is, more we interact with them
- Find those who are similar tend to be more physically attractive and so the more we want to be liked by them
- Once liking develops it reinforces connections
What are the 3 types of interdependence in close relationships
Cognitive interdependence, behavioural interdependence and affective interdependence
What is cognitive interdependence
Where partner knowledge becomes self knowledge so we think about the partners point of view as well as our own
What is behavioural interdependence
Each person has big influence on partners decisions, activities and plans
What is affective interdependence
- intimacy draws people together
- commitment holds relationship together
What are the different attachment styles in close relationships
- Secure attachement styles : unafraid of intimacy
- Preoccupied attachment style: want relationship but worried other does not
- Dismissing attachment style: reluctant to get close to others as want to be independent
- Fearful attachment style: find it difficult to trust others
What a re the similarities in same sex relationships
- satisfaction driven by similar attitudes, values and backgrounds
- relationships form through proximity and familiarity
- commitment is strong predictor for success
What are the differences in same sex relationships
- more likely to remain friends after relationship break down
- division of household labour more equitable
- more likely to originate from existing friendships
Psychological factors that influence who we like
Need to affiliate, emotions, similarity of others, mutual liking
What is the need to affiliate
Attraction to others is driven by motive to seek and maintain relationships with others, if affiliation is not satisfied then it can result in -ve consequences such as rejection, sadness and anger
What is the social exchange theory
- peoples evaluation of a relationship depends on their perception of the rewards the gain from it, the costs they incur from it, and the relationship they deserve and the likelihood that they could have a better one
What is a comparison level and how can relationships depend on this
People’s expectations about the costs and rewards based on their previous relationships
What is the equity theory
- says most people are satisfied with relationships where the cost-reward ratio is the same for each person
What is the reinforcement affect model
People can be liked depending on their association with +ve or -ve feelings
What are the 6 types of love
- Eros : passionate love
- Ludus: game-playing love
- Storge: companionate love
- Mania: possessive love
- Agape: selfless love
- Pragma: logical love
What are 3 factors that motivate people to stay in a relationship
- A persons dedication to a partner
- Can be costly to exit the relationship
- The longer the relationship is the harder it is to break due to the more ties
What is Rusbult’s investment model of commitment
People’s commitment and stability of a relationship is determined by perceived costs, rewards and comparison level for alternatives
When do relationships end
- when partners have little to no similarities, comparison level for alternatives, amount of time spent together, level of support from partners social network, lack of commitment
What is the process of detachment from relationships
- consider pros and cons of staying in relationship
- 2 parties discuss differences and who is responsible for
- acknowledgement on relationship ending
