Relationships - factors affecting attraction Flashcards
What does the term ‘self-disclosure’ mean?
Revealing personal information
What key term is being described here “revealing personal information for example interests and attitudes’.
Self disclosure
Give x3 examples of personal information that may be revealed through ‘self-disclosure’.
Interests, hobbies, likes, dislikes, attitudes.
Why is self-disclosure important in attraction?
Helps to move beyond initial attraction and understand our partner better.
Which theory of attraction is being described “the gradual process of revealing yourself e.g. inner self, feelings and deep secrets’.
Social penetration theory
According to Social Penetration Theory if both partners disclose information and respond in positive ways what does this increase and what impact does this have on the relationship?
Feels of intimacy and attraction.
Deepens the relationship.
According to Social Penetration Theory what is the consequence of couples increasing the breadth and depth of self-disclosure over time.
The relationship deepens and they become more committed to each other.
According to Social Penetration Theory - what will happen if too much deep information is revealed to early?
Threaten the development of the relationship.
What is the name of the theory that suggests we should peel/tear back layers of the public self (low risk info) first then more inner private layers?
The onion theory (Social penetration theory)
What does the Social penetration/onion theory suggest about self disclosure?
We should reveal low risk information about our public self first then more inner private layers.
What does Social Penetration Theory suggest about disclosure in more committed relationships?
Couples disclose more intimate/high risk information
What does Social Penetration Theory suggest about they level of information disclosed early on in the relationship?
Superficial/low risk
What does Social Penetration Theory suggest increases attraction and feelings of intimacy in a relationship?
Self-disclosure
According to Social Penetration Theory what might threaten the development of the relationship?
Disclosure of too much deep information, too early on.
RTS - who did Sprecher and Hendrick study and what did they find?
Heterosexual dating couples
Strong correlations between relationship satisfaction, commitment and self-disclosure
What is a weakness of research into self-disclosure?
Correlational - so cause and effect cannot be established between self-disclosure and attraction
Research into self-disclosure is correlational - what is a limitation of this?
Cause and effect cannot be established between self-disclosure and attraction
Research into self-disclosure is correlational therefore cause and effect cannot be established between what two variables?
self-disclosure and attraction
Why does the concept of self-disclosure lack cultural relativism?
Self-disclosure in the USA self-disclose more sexual thoughts and feelings than in China yet satisfaction is the same in both countries.
Self-disclosure in the USA self-disclose more sexual thoughts and feelings than in China yet satisfaction is the same in both countries - what criticism could be made of this theory?
Lacks cultural relativism
Much of the research into self-disclosure is based on what type of research methods?
Self report (interviews and questionnaires)
Most of the research into self-disclosure is based on interviews and questionnaires - what is the weakness of this?
Social desirability
Social desirability is a weakness of research into self-disclosure - what might ppts lie about?
How much information they disclose to their partner
How satisfied they are in their relationships.
What does the evolutionary explanation argue is a physical factor affecting attraction?
Having a symmetrical face
Why do evolutionary psychologists argue having a symmetrical face leads to greater attractiveness?
It is a sign of genetic fitness (healthy and having good genes)
