Relationships - factors affecting attraction Flashcards
what are the factors affecting attraction?
self-disclosure
filter theory
physical attractiveness
why are people attraccted to symmetrical faces?
because its a sign of health and good genetics
what is netenous?
baby face
what are features of netenous?
big eyes
small nose
delicate chin
why are people attracted to babyfaces?
because for men they seem fertile and able to reproduce
for the physical attraction theory, who are men attracted to?
baby face women - big eyes small nose etc
for the physical attraction theory, who are women attracted to?
men with big muscles and sharp old faces as theyre a sign of old age and protectiveness
when is physical attractiveness important?
at the start of a relationship - to kick start the talking
at the end to maintain interest
what is the halo effect?
The idea that physical attractiveness tends to have a disproportionate effect on our judgement of a persons other traits. such as their strength/success
according to the physical attraction theory what stereotypes do we have?
we have predisposed ideas about that attributes of an attractive person. for example, smart or successful.
how did karen dion describe physical attractiveness stereotypes?
‘what is beautiful is good’
what did dion find?
physically attractive people are often called strong, sociable and kind more than unattractive.
what is the matching hypothesis?
- people date people who they believe are of similar attractiveness
- ## to do this we judge our own value
acording to PA theory, why do we date people of similar attraction?
to avoid rejection
who proposed matching hypothosis?
walster
A01 for physical attraction summary
1) what is physical attraction
2) who are men and women attracted to
-netenous
- symmetry
3) halo effect
-Dion
4)matching hypothesis
-Walster
evaluate physical attraction theory
- individual differences - not everyone value attraction in the same way - some psychologists will question the notion that is it a significant consideration in all romantic relationship.
- alternative explanations - self discolsure is actually more imporatnt
- refuting research - taylor found that when assesing who people rated on dating sites they wanted to be with people more attractive than them - lack of temporal validity - matching hypothoesis = 60s
- palmer and peterson found that attractive people were rated as more politically nkolwedgeable even if this people had no particular impressive skill
what was kerckhoff and davis reseach?
they compared the relations of students who had short term (<18 months) and long term relationship
what is the filter theory?
states that everyone has a field of availables
but not everyone who is available is desirable. There are three main factors that filter the availables to the desirables.
what is the field of availables?
entire set of ptential patners we could get with
what are the three filters?
social demography
similarity in attitudes
complimentarity
what is social demography?
the factors that influence wether we meet the potential partner in the first place - proximity, culture, socieal class, religion, education, occupation etc etc
what is the benefit of proximity?
accessibility - it is easy to see them
what is homogamy?
idea you will most likeley form a relationship with someone socially and culturally similar
what is similarity in attitudes?
partners will share similar values and moral codes as a result of the frist filter
why is similarity in attitudes important?
Kerckoff and Davis (in their student study) found that it is imporatnt in the first 18 months as it encourages deep communication and we often find it attractive when they have similar views to our own.
what is complementarity?
the extent to which they meet each others needs
they compliment when one partner has trait that the other lacks.
one is funny - the other likes to laugh
when is complimentarity important?
in the long term of a relationship
because it gives the feeling they have formed a whole and have more potential to flourish
when is similiarity in attitudes important?
in the short term time of a relationship
evaluate filter theory
+winch - similarity in attitudes at the start of a relationship (1950s)
- lack of temporal validity - reduced the need for social demography because there is phones etc and potentially we are not as set on homogamy
replicated, further suggesting the study was a mere product of its time,
- cause and effect - they become similar becaause of inital attraction they are not attracted because theyre similar
- alternative exp
what is self-disclosure?
revealing info about yourself
describe self-discolsure in relatiosnhips
vital role in relationships
people are careful about what they discolse but also want ti learn and talk about stuff with their new love interest
self-discolsure used correctly = better relationship
what is social penetration?
it is the process of revealing yourself to someone.
the RECIPROCAL exchange of info between you and your partner.
as discolsure increases between partners, romantic partners PENETRATE more into each others lives
describe reciprocal self-disclosure
one partner reveals info about themselves
this displays trust
for the relationship to develop the other must then self-discolse
this develops intimacy and trust
it is a two way system
who proposed self-discolsure?
taylor and altman
what is crucial for self-discolsure in a relationshp?
balance
other than balance, what is important for self-discolsure?
breadth and depth
what analogy do Altman and Taylor use for breadth and death of self-discolsure?
the many layers of an onion is like a relationship, you reveal more as you go on
explain breadth and depth at the start of a relationship
- at the start we reveal lots of infomation about ourselves but it is all superficial (like the outer layers of an onion)
- low risk
- ## breadth is limited at the start as we dont want to reveal too much and scare them off
explain breadth and depth at the end of a relationship
-as the relationship develops self discolsure becomes deeper
- we remove more and more layers tp reveal more about ourselves
- even things that matter to us
- eventuall we reveal high risk - intimate details about ourselves
-
evaluate self-discolsure
+ practical applications - couples therapy - can increase intamcy again and deeper and maintain their relationship - deepens statisfaction and commitment - valuable
+ HASS AND STRATFORD FOUND THAT 57% OF GAY MEN AND WOMEN FOUND SELF-DISCOLSURE STRENGTHENED THEIR RELATIOSNHIPS
+ hendrick found A CORRELATION BETWEEN men and women who felt that both them and their partner used self-discolsure reciprocally wre more satisified
- correlation vs causation - are they attracted and then self-disclose
who put forward FILTER THEORY?
Kerckhoff and davis 1962
a01 summary for self d
Taylor and altman
1. what is self disclosure
2. social penetration
3. breath and depth
4. reciprocity
5. trust and intimacy
a01 summary for filter
Keckoff and davis
1. field of available
2. filters
3. homogamy
