Relationship formation Flashcards

1
Q

How can the behaviourist assumptions be applied to pet-owner relationships?

A

The principles of operant conditioning have been used to train pets and aid the formation of pet-owner relationships.
Training dogs involves rewarding good behaviours.
The rewards increase the likelihood the good behaviour will be repeated and will increase the satisfaction of both the owner and the pet.
Pet-owners are also less likely to suffer with depression.
The presence of a pet is generally associated with positive feelings such as companionship.
This is an example of classical conditioning.

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2
Q

How can classical conditioning explain relationship formation?

A

We like those who are associated with pleasant events.
If you meet someone when you’re feeling happy, you’re more inclined to like them than if you meet them when you’re unhappy.
A previously neutral stimulus (someone we haven’t met) can become positively valued because of their association with the pleasant event.
Liking through association may lead to having a relationship.

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3
Q

How can operant conditioning explain relationship formation?

A

A new relationship can be positively reinforcing.
We are therefore likely to spend more time with someone.
Being with someone can also help us avoid feelings of loneliness and rejection. This is an example of negative reinforcement.
If we’re not in a relationship, we may feel punished.
For example:
Being excluded from “couples’ events”.

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4
Q

What is the name of Thibaut and Kelley’s (1959) theory?

A

Social exchange theory.

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5
Q

How did Thibaut and Kelley (1959) describe romantic relationships?

A

Using the economic terminology of profit and loss.
They claim that partners in relationships strive to maximise rewards and minimise costs.
Rewards and costs are subjective.
Costs also tend to change over time.

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6
Q

What is the name of Cate et al’s (1982) theory?

A

Reward/need satisfaction theory.

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7
Q

What did Cate et al (1982) study?

A

Asked 337 individuals to assess their current relationships in terms of reward level and satisfaction.
Results showed that reward level was superior to all other factors in determining relationship satisfaction.
However, a problem with this theory is that it only explores the receiving of rewards.

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8
Q

What did Hayes (1985) find?

A

Found that we gain satisfaction from giving as well as receiving.

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9
Q

What is the name of Clore and Byrne’s (1974) theory?

A

Reinforcement-affect model

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10
Q

What is Clore and Byrne’s (1974) reinforcement-affect model?

A

Based on assumptions:
People experience stimuli as rewarding or punishing and seek out those that are rewarding.
Positive feelings are associated with rewarding stimuli.
Other people are liked or disliked according to their association with rewarding or punishing stimuli.
We learn to associate positive feelings with people that are linked to rewards.

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