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Psychology > RELATIONSHIPS > Flashcards

RELATIONSHIPS Flashcards

1
Q

Define sexual selection

A
  • Evolutionary explanation for partner preferences
  • Attributes or behaviours that increase reproductive success are passed on and may become exaggerated over succeeding generations of offspring
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2
Q

Define anisogamy

A
  • Difference between male and female+ female sex cells
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3
Q

What are the two mating strategies proposed by Charles Darwin?

A
  • Intersexual selection
  • Intrasexual selection
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4
Q

Outline intersexual selection

A
  • Preferred mating strategy for females
  • Members of one sex evolve preferences for desirable qualities in potential mates
  • QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

(E.g. attractiveness + resources gain a mating advantage)

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5
Q

Outline intrasexual selection

A
  • Preferred mating strategy for males
  • Individuals of one sex competes with members of the same sex for members of the other sex
  • QUANTITY OVER QUALITY
  • successful individuals can mate + pass on their genes
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6
Q

Explain why mechanisms for mate choice evolve?

A
  • Random mating is stupid mating
  • Being ‘choosy’ (which is time + energy consuming) pays off as the genetic quality of a mate determines half the genetic quality of offspring
  • Low-quality mates are likely to produce unattractive, unhealthy offspring
  • FEMALES attracted to males who have resources + can invest resources in her and her offspring, can parent well + can protect them - for females creating offspring is TIME + ENERGY CONSUMING
  • MALES - creating offspring requires little time, energy and responsibility
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7
Q

Outline a study supporting intersexual selection

A
  • Fisher’s (1930) ‘sexy sons’ hypothesis
  • If female chooses to mate w/ attractive male, her offspring will also grow up to be attractive so they will also attract mates
    ^— ensures female’s genes passed on
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8
Q

Define physical dimorphism

A

Differences in the body size and physical appearance between males and females

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9
Q

Outline the procedure of Buss (1989)

A
  • Explored what males and females looked for in a long-term partner
  • 10000 people from 37 different cultures
  • Participants asked to rate each of 18 characteristics (e.g. physical attractiveness, good financial prospect) on how important they would be in choosing a mate
  • Four-point scale used: 3 (indispensable) to 0 (irrelevant)
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10
Q

Outline the findings of Buss (1989)

A

RESOURCES - women desired mates who had good financial prospects more than men - desire for men with resources or ambition
PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS - men placed more importance on physical attractiveness - cues a woman’s health + fertility
YOUTH - men universally wanted mates who were younger than them - indicated fertility
OTHER - both sexes wanted intelligent (linked to parenting skill) + kind (linked to interest in long-term relationships) mates

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11
Q

What are evolutionary explanations?

A

Focus on adaptive nature of behaviour
^— Modern behaviours are believed to have evolved because they solved challenges faced by our distant ancestors + became widespread in the gene pool

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12
Q

Briefly explain what is meant by the ‘matching hypothesis’

A

Claims that when people look for a partner for a romantic relationship, they tend to look for someone whose social desirability approximately equals their own

Walster and Walster (1969)

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13
Q

Outline the role of physical attractiveness in attraction

A
  • Shackelford and Larsen (1997) - Symmetrical face more attractive = signs of genetic fitness
  • NEOTONOUS features thought to trigger protective + caring instincts, related to formation of attachment

BOTH EVOLUTIONARY

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14
Q

What is the Halo effect?

A
  • We hold preconceived ideas about the attributes of physically attractiveness people
    ^— believe all other attributes overwhelmingly positive

Pretty privilege

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15
Q

Outline the matching hypothesis as it applies to attraction

A
  • Claims that, when initiating romantic relationships, individuals seek out partners whose social desirability approximately equals their own
  • When choosing a partner, individuals first assess their own ‘value’ in the eyes of a potential romantic partner + select the best available candidates who would likely be attracted to them
  • Both would theoretically be attracted to those most socially desirable, but partners similar to them in social desirability means increased likelihood of success
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16
Q

Describe the relationship between the matching hypothesis and physical attractiveness

A
  • Matching hypothesis proposed ppl pair up with those with equal social desirability (a range of assets), though it has changed to only be associated with physical attractiveness
    ^— expect people to pair up with those similarly physically attractive
  • Walster et al: ‘realistic’ choices - each individual is influenced by the chances of their affection being reciprocated
17
Q

Outline the procedure of one study of the matching hypothesis

A
  • Walster et al (1966) advertised a ‘computer dance’ for new students at Uni of Minnesota
  • 177 males + 170 females were randomly selected to take part
  • When they came to pick up their tickets, 4 student accomplices surreptitiously rated each of them for physical attractiveness
  • Participants then asked to complete long questionnaires (e.g. to assess personality, intelligence, etc) + told that the data would be used to allocate their ideal partner for the evening of the dance - PAIRING ACTUALLY RANDOM
  • During intermission, participants asked to complete a questionnaire about their dates + a questionnaire 6 months after the dance
18
Q

Outline the findings of one study of the matching hypothesis

A
  • Walster et al. (1966)
  • DID NOT SUPPORT MATCHING HYPOTHESIS
  • Once participants had met their dates, they responded more positively to physically attractive dates regardless of their own physical attractiveness + were more likely to subsequently try to arrange dates with them if they were physically attractive
  • Personality + intelligence did not affect liking the dates or any attempt to date them

Psychology (19 decks)

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