Relationships

Question 1

What is a relationship?

Answer 1

A continuing and committed association between two or more people

Question 2

What is natural selection?

Answer 2

The argument that genes which are advantageous for survival are naturally selected

Question 3

What is sexual selection?

Answer 3

A form of natural selection which suggests the characteristics that increase reproductive success are passed on through generations.

Question 4

What is anisogamy?

Answer 4

The sex differences related to our gametes.

Question 5

What is the consequence of anisogamy?

Answer 5

There is no shortage of fertile males but there is shortage of fertile females as there is more time constraint.

Question 6

What are the two types of sexual selection?

Answer 6

Intersexual selection
Intrasexual selection

Question 7

What is intersexual selection?

Answer 7

(Female strategy)
Strategy to enhance female reproductive success in which the mate is carefully selected. They look for males who display genetic success.

Question 8

How does intersexual selection affect partner preference?

Answer 8

Look for genetic success such as fitness, strength, status and resources. ‘Female choosiness’

Question 9

What is intrasexual selection?

Answer 9

(Male strategy)
The best strategy for males to enhance their reproductive success is to have as much sex with fertile females as possible. ‘Male competitiveness’

Question 10

How does intrasexual selection affect partner preference?

Answer 10

Look for traits of fertility such as good health, childbearing hips etc.

Question 11

Supportive evidence of evolutionary explanations for relationships

Answer 11

-Buss 1989 ->Surveyed 10,000 adults in 33 countries where females reported valuing resources whilst men valued looks. Supports sexual selection.
-Waynforth and Dunbar -> used American newspapers ‘lonely hearts’ column, women tended to describe themselves physically but men described themselves in terms of resources etc.

Question 12

Limitations of evolutionary explanations for relationships

Answer 12

-Temporal validity -> is socially sensitive as it promotes sexist behaviours. Alpha bias.
-Penton Voak et al -> suggests females preferences change across the menstrual cycle therefore suggesting the evolutionary exlaination is too specific

Question 13

What is self disclosure?

Answer 13

The voluntary sharing of private aspects of self with another person. Gradual revealing

Question 14

What are the consequences of self disclosure?

Answer 14

Greater intimacy, more satisfaction.
However too much is a turnoff

Question 15

What is social penetration theory?

Answer 15

Altman and Taylor says self disclosure is the revealing of self.

Question 16

Why should self disclosure be limited to begin?

Answer 16

Too much at the beginning may be inappropriate, the other person must also reveal sensitive information.
A lack of equal self disclosure could lead to an incompatibility between two people.

Question 17

What is breadth and depth in social penetration theory ?

Answer 17

Both factors are important
Breadth is the range of topics shared
Depth is the detail to which information is given

Question 18

What is reciprocity ?

Answer 18

If one person shares more than the other is willing to then there may be a breakdown of trust.

Question 19

What are the factors to consider in self disclosure?

Answer 19

-Appropriateness
-Attribution
-Content of disclosure

Question 20

Supportive evidence of self disclosure

Answer 20

Collins and Miller meta analysis- found that self disclosure on a higher level is attractive.
Sprecher and Hendrick- found strong correlation between high satisfaction levels and greater self disclosure in heterosexual couples

Question 21

Limitations of self disclosure in relationships

Answer 21

Cultural differences for example in Japanese cultures (Tang et al)
Incomplete explanations as it cannot explain all stages of a relationship