Relationships Flashcards
1st paragraph (parental investment theory)
This theory tells us that men are more likely to engage in casual sex and to have short term relationships than women. This is supported by Clarke and Hatfields study where they found that 75% of men who were approached by a stranger of the opposite sex, agreed to have sex with them and 69% agreed to go back to their house.
*women did not agree to have casual sex
2nd paragraph (parental investment theory)
Men and women both experience sexual jealousy but are affected in different ways.
Men are more affected if their partner has been sexually unfaithful. This is because males are concerned and scared of investing their support in another man’s child as they wouldn’t be reproducing their genes.
Women are affected more if their partner has an emotional connection or if they were in love with someone else. This is because it poses a threat that the man will leave and invest his support in another woman, which could threaten the survival of her offspring.
3rd paragraph (parental investment theory)
The PIT explains these differences between men and women by linking it back to what they both invest in the process of reproduction.
Men tend to invest very little in their offspring. Throughout a males life they produce a large amount of sperm and can be fertile for their entire life, with the only limitation as the amount of women to mate with. The best way for a man to maximise his level of reproductive success is to have multiple partners so he can reproduce his genes. (Why men engage in casual sex)
A women’s supplies (ova) is around 100 times larger than the sperm. She also has a limited supply of these (producing one ovum per month) and her reproductive life is only around 30 years. Following conception, her pre-natal investment continues to be large. This is because a woman carries a growing foetus for around 40 weeks of pregnancy, feeding her baby from her own supply of nourishment and food. A woman then gives birth and continues to invest through breastfeeding.
(Explains why women are more selective in choosing a partner who is financially stable and committed)
Issues and debates (parental investment theory)
Deterministic as it assumes that all males and females simply seek out sexual partners who are more likely to maximise their chances of successfully reproducing their genes.
Therefore overlooks the concept of free will as some males and females individual choices for sexual partners is based on factors unique to them. Eg. A female may choose a man who is likely to be unfaithful just because she is attracted to them. This challenges the evolutionary approach of explaining a females partner selection.
Evaluation (parental investment theory)
Weaknesses - theory suggests that people want to produce their genes so it can not explain why people adopt. Adoption disapproves this theory as it would involve a couple or person investing in someone else’s child which would mean they aren’t reproducing their genes.
- theory suggests that women are unlikely to have short term relationships or engage in casual sex but ignores the fact that not all relationships are long term. The fact is that women also engage in casual sex and one night stands.
Intro (early attachment/ adult relationships)
The argument that there is a relationship between … was put forward by Bowlby. He argued that attachment is an instinctive process that has evolved to ensure the safety, protection and survival of babies.
Attachments form a hierarchical structure where the primary attachment, a special bond that is different to the others, is at the top and is the most important/stronger than any other. Bowlby referred to this as monotropy.
This relationship creates an internal working model, which acts as a template for all future relationships.
Bowlby argued that the attachment style continues through childhood to adulthood, which is known as the continuity hypothesis. This affects how adults run their relationships and how easily they can trust people.
1st paragraph ( early A/adult r)
Hazan and Shaver have carried out research based upon Ainsworths SST which outlined 3 types of attachments: secure, resistant and avoidant. They investigated the relationship between … Via a love quiz that incorporated questions that measured the attachment type of the participant during infancy and their attitudes towards adult relationships.
They found that an adult with a secure attachment type believed in lasting love, were trustworthy of others. Their parents were attentive and responsive to their child’s needs.
2nd paragraph (early A/adult r)
weakness with h&s study - based off Ainsworths SST which was used to construct questions on the love quiz in order to measure attachment type at infancy. This was a major flaw as it has been suggested that Ainsworths original 3 attachment types did not cover all cases of attachment and since her work, a 4th attachment type has been developed which suggests her ideas were not complete.
3rd paragraph (early A/adult r)
Methodological weaknesses of the survey method - sample used college students who were chosen for convenience. This creates researcher bias and lowers the population validity of the findings,as they cannot be generalised to different age groups.
The questions available only supplied quantitative data, meaning the participants were forced to comply with the answers pre-set in the quiz which weakens the accuracy of the responses as participants may have wished to explain their answers with more detail.
Issues and debates (early A/ adult r)
A further weakness of bowlby’s arguments is that it is highly deterministic. According to this study, a person’s attachment type determines how they will perceive and act in future adult relationships. Not always the case as children who experience a traumatic upbringing are not guaranteed to develop insecure attachment as some end up in a secure relationship.
H&s research overlooks the concept of free will as an individual can rationalise their beliefs and make a conscious effort to change attitudes and behaviour within relationships. ( couples counselling)
The deterministic approach to this research overlooks other potential influences of later adult relationships such as divorce of parents at childhood which can lead to a fear of rejection or death of a parent which may lead to a fear of abandonment.
Contrast ( early A/adult r)
SLT contrasts bowlby’s evolutionary approach as it suggests that our attitudes and behaviour towards current relationships is learnt from parents, peers and not determined by infant attachment type.
Intro (cultural variations)
Psychologists have sought to describe and evaluate the differences in relationships across cultures and with some interesting findings published.
However, postmodernists have expressed concerns about the research into cross cultural differences in relationships. This is because it is hard or impossible to establish that one interpretation is preferable to any other, the context of a relationship is going to differ considerably from one culture to another.
1st paragraph (cultural variations)
In support of the above, moghaddam has also argued that the interpretation of evidence will depend upon the culture of the person doing the interpretation, as he stated “ the cultural differences in interpersonal relationships remind us that scientists, like everyone else are socialised within a given culture’
2nd paragraph (cultural variations)
In light of this, a number of differences have been identified between individualist and collectivist cultures. For example, individualist cultures emphasise self-interest and the interest of one’s immediate family, personal autonomy, initiative and achievement whereas collectivist cultures emphasise loyalty to the group, interdependence and the belief that group decisions are more important than individual ones.
3rd paragraph (cultural variations)
However within individualistic cultures, it has to be noted that whilst love marriages are seen to be the norm, this was not always the case. For example, in earlier western cultures marriage was often based on wealth, property and social standing. Celia Mosher's study of Middle class female patients at the end of the 19th century found that those born at the end described sex in more positive ways than those born near the middle of the century, who saw it is as vital but not pleasurable. This shows that cultural views on relationships evolve over time as the world modernises.
