Relationships Flashcards
Sexual selection
Explains why certain characteristics are passed on. They aid survival by helping to reproduce. Eg, competition in males enables them to protect their female and produce offspring.
Anisogamy
Difference between male and female gametes
Inter sexual selection
Strategies that each sex use to attract the other. “Quality over quantity approach” & is favoured by females because they invest more energy into reproduction. Females will be “choosy” due to her limited reproductive resources
One example of inter sexual selection
Fisher’s ‘Sexy Sons Hypothesis’
Suggests through females choosing to mate with an attractive male, her offspring will also grow up to be attractive, and so themselves are likely to attract females to mate with.
Intra sexual selection
Strategies used within sexes to attract males. “Quantity over quality” approach favoured by males because they produce spem continuously, with little energy investment. From evolutionary perspective, most effective for men to impregnate as many women to ensure the survival of their genes.
Example of intra sexual selection strategies
- Males behaving aggressively and being protective of their female (reducing the likelihood that she will be impregnated by another competing male)
- strong physical characteristics like broad shoulders.
Dimorphism
The result of a difference in mating strategies and anisogamy eg the physical differences between the male and female sexes.
Criticism of sexual selection and human reproductive behaviour
- Evidence suggests that it is incorrect to assume that current reproductive patterns still have a strong evolutionary basis. The modern climate no longer facilitates the evolutionary pressures of inter sexual selection, with women no longer placing such a large emphasis on resource - availability as they are increasingly financially independent
How can the sexual selection pressures of evolution be supported in modern times?
Singh found the hip to waist ratio is still favourable for men, suggesting it still indicates a female is fertile and able to carry children over a long period of time, as birth is easier when the female has larger hips and a narrower waist.
How does Clark and Hatfield support the idea that females are more selective when it comes to potential males.
Found 75% of college males, compared to 0% of females, would be willing to sleep with a stranger if this stranger had approached them and complimented them. Supports the idea that men have an evolutionary predisposition to want to impregnate as many women as possible.
Factors affecting attraction: Self-disclosure
Refers to the information we choose to reveal about ourselves within a romantic relationship. Aim of self disclosure is to increase the intimacy and understanding between the two individuals. This relies on the self disclosure to be reciprocal.
Social penetration theory
Suggests that the process of self disclosure allows one person to penetrate deeper into the life of their partner, thus increasing intimacy and trust.
Explain the onion analogy
As the relationship progresses, more layers of the onion are removed, represents more information being disclosed. This is only likely to occur if the exchange of information is mutual
What do Reis and Shaver suggest about the social penetration theory?
Two elements: depth and breadth
Positive correlation between increasing quality and trust within a relationship, coinciding with increasing depth and breadth of revealed information. Eg high levels of breadth result in low levels of depth due to many topics being “off limits”. Key to maintaining an intimate relationship is a balance between depth and breadth and reciprocal self disclosure
What did Hass and Stafford find about the importance of self disclosure
Found that for couples with high levels of intimacy and commitment within relationships, 57% reported the use of self discourse as a way to maintain it. Therefore, this supports the use of therapies that control on increase self disclosure breadth and depth, thus reinforcing the validity of social penetration theory.
What methodological issue reduces the validity of self disclosure?
Troubles establishing cause and effect due to the use of correlational studies. there is a correlation between satisfaction and self disclosure, but there could also be a “third variable problem” .
What did Shackleford and Larsen find on evolutionary perspectives of physical traits?
There are certain physical traits which are pre-disposed to find attractive. Eg females with child like features are more likely to be viewed as attractive by males because their features trigger an aggressive and protective trait in men.
What is the halo effect
Suggests we have a tendency to associate highly attractive people with pre-conceived disproportionately positive charecteristics, including personality and wealth even though those factors aren’t linked.
- were more likely to view attractive people as trustworthy, honest and successful
Matching hypothesis
The key to a successful relationship is striking a balance between the attractiveness of a mate and the realistic chances of attaining them. This relies in an accurate assessment of one’s own attractiveness and value, meaning that we’re more likely to have a mate who is of a similar attractiveness level to us. Reduces the likelihood of rejection.
The halo effect and physical attractiveness criticism
May not be the best predictor for the quality of an early relationship. Research has found that ppts with low score on a scale which measure the underlying sexist beliefs of others were less attracted to an individual as a potential partner based purely on physical attractiveness
Support for the importance of physical attractiveness: Cultural relativism
Both individualist and collectivist cultures find similar features attractive, such as large eyes, high eyebrows and sharp cheekbones. Although attractiveness differs between individuals, what is considered attractive is consistent.
How can the halo effect be applied to real life as a point of support?
Palmer and Peterson found that when PPts were shown physically attractive people , but told they knew nothing about politics, PPts still judged the images as representative of people who were highly politically skilled and mature. This has implications in the state of politics, politicians may choose more attractive candidates to perhaps secure more votes.
Filter theory of attraction
Suggests we are initially exposed to a field of availables, but in order to form relationships, we must narrow down this field into “field of desirables” using 3 filters of social demography, similarity in attitudes and complementarity.
