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Relationships Flashcards

1
Q

What is anisogamy?

A

the difference between male and female sex cells
- male = small, mobile, vast numbers
- female = large, static, intervals

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2
Q

What is a consequence of anisogamy?

A

no shortage of fertile males but a fertile woman is a ‘rare’ resource

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3
Q

What are the 2 different mating strategies?

A

Intrasexual selection (mate competition)
Intersexual selection (mate choice)

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4
Q

What is intrasexual selection?

A

when members of one sex compete with eachother for access to members of the opposite sex
- preferred strategy for males

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5
Q

What is intersexual selection?

A

The preference for certain traits in the opposite sex
- preferred strategy for females

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6
Q

What is the importance for ‘good genes’ in intrasexual selection?

A
  • to produce successful offspring
  • to offer protection and support to offspring
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7
Q

Research support for evolutionary explanations for partner preferences

A

BUSS
- asked participants (over 100 over 37 cultures) to rate the importance of a number of characteristics in a sexual partner
- MEN ^ = youth/fertility
- WOMEN ^ = stability

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8
Q

I&D Evolutionary explanations of PP

A

REDUCTIONISM
- argue that strategies for choosing a mate are the result of genetic inheritance and a striving for reproductive success
- fail to account for homosexual relationships

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9
Q

What is self-disclosure?

A

Deliberate, significant information, not normally known by others

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10
Q

Risks of self-disclosure

A
  • social rejection
  • blackmail
  • poorly time disclosure can cause problems
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11
Q

What is the Social Penetration Theory?

A

Reciprocal exchange
- when one person reveals personal information as a sign of trust, the other person must also reveal sensitive
– as they share more, they ‘penetrate’ more deeply into each-other’s lives

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12
Q

Breadth and depth of self-disclosure

A

Breadth –> how many topics r off limits (reduces as disclosure deepens)
Depth –> the gradual levels of disclosure

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13
Q

How can a reciprocal element develop a relationship?

A
  • creates a balance of self-disclosure
    – increased feelings of intimacy
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14
Q

Research support for self-disclosure

A

SPRECHER AND HENDRICK
- found strong correlations between several measures of satisfaction in couples and levels of self-disclosure
BUT
not causal

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15
Q

I&D Self-disclosure

A

CULTURE BIAS
- Imposed etic from western cultures
– In USA (individualistic) more sexual thoughts are disclosed than in China (collectivist)

CONCLUSIONS MAY BE OF LIMITED USE

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16
Q

What is the Matching Hypothesis theory?

A

That people choose romantic partners who are roughly of similar attractiveness to themselves
- to do this they must make a judgment about their own ‘value’
– they may compromise to avoid rejection

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17
Q

What is filter theory?

A

suggests that people develop relationships by applying a series of filters to narrow down the pool of available candidates.

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18
Q

What is the 1st level of the filter theory?

A

SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHY
- factors that influence the chance of meeting eachother (e.g geographical location, social class, ethnic group)

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19
Q

What is the 2nd level of the filter theory?

A

SIMILARITY IN ATTITUDES
- partners will often share important beliefs an values (partly due to the 1st filter)

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20
Q

What is the 3rd level of the filter theory?

A

COMPLEMENTARITY OF NEEDS
- the ability of romantic partners to meet eachother’s needs
(compliment eachother when they have what the latter lacks)

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21
Q

Why is social demography important?

A
  • accessibility is a key benefit as it means less effort
  • our realistic field of potential partners is narrowed by social circumstances
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22
Q

Why is similarity of attitudes important?

A
  • encourages deeper communication and promotes self-disclosure in newer couples (less than 18 months)
  • relationship is likely to fizzle out if there is a lack of similarities
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23
Q

Why is complementarity of needs important?

A
  • gives long-term partners the feeling that together they form a whole, which adds depth to the relationship and makes it more likely to flourish
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24
Q

Research support for Filter theory

A

KERCHKOFF + DAVIES
- comp short term (<18 months) and long terms couples
- self-report questionnaires looking at 2nd and 3rd filters
- 7 months after initial questioning, couples were asked abt how close they felt to eachother comp to the beginning
FINDINGS
- 2nd filter was more important in short term and 3rd was most in long

25
Limitation with filter theory
LACK TEMPORAL VALIDITY - the roles of the filters have changed over time -- online dating has expanded the field of availables + social changes have led to relationships less common 30 yrs ago (e.g dif ethnic bgs)
26
I&D Filter theory
REDUCTIONIST - too simplistic and suggest each filter is vital for a long term relationship - no differentiation between actual and perceived similarity - to simple to suggest cause and effect
27
What is the Social Exchange Theory?
An economic theory that describes relationships as a series of exchanges aiming at balancing rewards and costs.
28
What is the relationship between rewards, costs and profit in the social exchange theory?
- wish to maximise rewards from a relationship (e.g love, sex, support) and minimise costs (e.g time, effort, risk) - aim to achieve profit
29
What is a comparison level?
- a standard to which all relationships are compared against -- based on memories of past experiences and expectation of the future
30
What is a comparison level used for?
- to judge how one partner compares to another potential one on the profitability front
31
What are the stages of relationship development?
- Sampling - Bargaining - Commitment - Institutionalisation
32
What is the comparison level for alternatives?
- the comparison between the potential increase in rewards from an alternative relationship and any costs associated with ending the current relationship
33
What is the sampling stage? (Social Exchange)
- we consider the potential rewards and costs of a relationship and compare it with other relationships available at the time
34
What is the bargaining stage? (Social Exchange)
- we give and receive rewards to test whether a deeper relationship is worthwhile
35
What is the commitment stage? (Social Exchange)
- the relationship increases in predictability so each partner knows how to elicit rewards from the other, which lowers cost
36
What is the institutionalisation stage? (Social Exchange)
- the relationship norms are developed which establishes the patterns of rewards and costs for each partner
37
Limitation for the Social Exchange Theory
LACK OF A CLEAR CAUSE AND EFFECT - claims that dissatisfaction arises after a relationship stops being 'profitable' - Argyle argues that we don't monitor costs and rewards or consider alternatives until we are dissatisfied
38
Research support for Social Exchange theory
KURDEK + SCHMITT - investigated the importance of social exchange factors in determining relationship quality (all cohabitating w no kids) - Questionnaire (no discussing w eachother) FINDINGS - ^ satisfaction associated with perceptions of many beliefs of the current relations AND seeing alternatives as less attractive
39
What is the role of equity?
- equity = fairness (both parents levels of profit are roughly the same to reduce over or under benefitting)
40
Emotional consequences for over benefitting
Guilt Shame Discomfort
41
Emotional consequences for under benefitting
Anger Hostility Resentment Humiliation
42
Difference between equality and equity
The rewards are distributed fairly, not equally --> inevitably involves negotiations and trade-offs
43
Consequences of inequity
A partner who is a subject of inequity will be distressed and dissatisfied with the relationship if it persists
44
Ways to deal with inequity (2)
- The under benefitted partner is usually motivated to make the relationship more suitable (restore actual equity) - Costs are now accepted as the norm (restore perceived equity)
45
RESEARCH SUPPORT for equity theory
STANDFORD + CANARY - investigated how equity and satisfaction predicted the use of maintenance strategies (sharing tasks, positivity, emphasising commitment) FINDINGS - spouses who were treated equitably tended to be happier and so were more likely to engage in behaviours that added to their spouses send of equity and happiness
45
Limitations for equity theory
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES - Not all partners in romantic relationships are concerned about achieving equity -- benevolents = prepared to contribute more to the relationship -- entitleds = believe they deserved to over benefit and accept it w/o feeling guilty
46
What is satisfaction judged by?
comparing rewards and costs and is seen as profitable if it has more rewards than costs
47
What is an investment? (r)
Anything a person puts into a relationship that will be lost if they leave it
48
What is an intrinsic investment? (e.g)
Any resources put directly into the relationship -- money, emotions, self disclosure
49
What is an extrinsic investment? (e.g)
Resources that didn't feature before but are closely associated with the relationship -- mutual friends, memories, children
50
What is the value of commitment in a relationship compared to satisfaction? and why? (investment theory)
Commitment is a consequence of increasing dependence - they made an investment that they do not want to see go to waste --> work hard to maintain/ repair the relationship
51
What is the intra-psychic phase? (DUCK)
The cognitive process occurring within the individual - the partner thinks about it privately and may share with a trusted friend - weigh up pros and cons of the relationship
52
What is the dyadic phase? (DUCK)
Inter-personal processes between the 2 partners - a series of confrontations and dissatisfactions are aired(anxiety, hostility etc) - determination to break the relationship OR desire to repair it
53
What is the social phase? (DUCK)
Wider processes involving the couple's social networking - break up is made public + partners will seek support - point of no return --> momentum driven by social forces
54
What is the grave-dressing phase? (DUCK)
The aftermath - saving face and spinning a favourable story of the breakup - creating a personal story they can live with - tidying memories /rewriting history
55
What is the resurrection phase? (DUCK)
Ex-partners begin to use what they learnt from the past relationships to prepare for future ones - partners may return to an earlier phase
56
Practical application for DUCK
- explains how couples stay together even if they have doubts
57
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Psychology (4 decks)

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