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)
What did Shakelford and Larsen find about facial symmetry and attraction?
People with symmetrical faces were rated as more attractive
What is meant by ‘neotenous features’
Having a baby face
Give examples of neotenous features (baby face)
Large eyes and small nose
How do baby face neotenous features link to attraction?
Baby face features e.g. large eyes are seen as more attractive
Why are ‘neotenous features’ seen as more attractive
Because they trigger a caring and protective instinct
How does physical attractiveness affect ideas about personality traits?
Attractive people are seen as having better personality traits e.g. kind
Give examples of personality traits that physically attractive people are assumed to have
Kind, strong, sociable and successful.
The belief that attractive people are good people is known as what?
The halo effect
What is meant by the halo effect?
The belief that attractive people are good people e.g. kind and successful.
The idea that people form relationships with people who are similar to their level of attractiveness is known as what?
The matching hypothesis
Why does the matching hypothesis argue we are attracted to people who are a similar level of attractiveness to us?
If we went for people who were more attractive we may never find a partner.
Why does Taylor’s research contradict the matching hypothesis?
Online daters seek meetings with partners who were more physically attractive than them
Much of the research into self-disclosure is based on what type of research methods?
Self report
Social desirability is a weakness of research into physical attractiveness - what might ppts lie about and why?
How important physical attractiveness is in a partner to avoid seeming shallow.
Why are there cultural similarities in physical factors affecting attraction?
Both Hispanic and Asian males rated large eyes and small nose as features that display genetic fitness.
Both Hispanic and Asian males rated large eyes and small nose as features that display genetic fitness.
American and Korean students both judged physically attractive people to be more trustworthy and friendly.
Why is this a strength of physical factors affecting attraction?
It is possible to generalise findings across Western and Non-Western cultures.
Name the three levels of the filter theory
Social demography
Similarity in attitudes
Complementarity
What do Kerckhoff and Davis call the range of people who are potentially available to us?
Field of availables
What do Kerckhoff and Davis argue about the range of people who are potentially available to us?
Not all the people who are available to use are desirable to us.
Because not all available people are desirable to us, what does the filter theory argue?
People use three filters to narrow down their choices to people who they think will offer them the best relationship.
How many filters are there in the ‘Filter Theory’
Three
Name X3 social demographic factors people use the filter available people by
Religion
Level of education
Geographical location (where they live)
Social class
What time frame does the similarity of attitudes apply as a filter?
For couples who have been a relationship for less than 18 months
What is meant by similarity of attitudes?
Agreeing on basic values
What is meant by complementarity
When one partner has traits that the other person lacks e.g. one person may enjoy making others laugh and the other partner like to laugh
The idea of opposites attract is which level of filter?
Complementarity
Why is complementarity important?
It makes the partners feel that together they form a whole
A03:
In Kerckhoff and Davis’ study into the filter theory which of the following predicted closeness only up to 18 months of the relationship?
1) Similarity and attitudes
2) Complementarity
Similarity and attitudes
A03
In Kerckhoff and Davis’ study into the filter theory which of the following predicted closeness for couples in longer relationships (over 18 months)
1) Similarity and attitudes
2) Complementarity
Complementarity
A03
Why is the filter theory criticised for lacking in ‘temporal validity’?
It was created in 1962 before online dating
A03:
Why is the lack of temporal validity due to the rise of online dating a criticism of the filter theory?
Social demographic factors e.g. location have become less important.
A03
What is the counterargument/discussion for filter theory lacking temporal validity due to the rise of dating apps?
People still filter by location or level of education.
Which two of the following are important factors in the Filter Theory:
A Personal compliments
B Profit and loss
C Self-disclosure
D Similarity in attitude
E Social demography
D and E
Why do lesbian couples contradict the Filter Theory
Equal dominance was linked to relationship satisfaction rather than complementarity (one dominant partner one non-dominant partner)
One partner being calm and another partner being more anxious and so needing a calm partner is known as what level in the Filter Theory?
Complementarity
Which level of the Filter Theory is missing:
Social demography
Complementarity
Similarity in attitudes
Which level of the Filter Theory is missing:
Complementarity
Similarity in attitudes
Which level of the Filter Theory is missing:
Social demography
Similarity in attitudes
Complementarity
What are the 3 theories in factors affecting attraction?
Filter theory
Physical attractiveness (matching hypothesis)
Self-disclosure
