Relationships - factors affecting attraction

Question 1

what are the factors affecting attraction?

Answer 1

self-disclosure
filter theory
physical attractiveness

Question 2

why are people attraccted to symmetrical faces?

Answer 2

because its a sign of health and good genetics

Question 3

what is netenous?

Answer 3

baby face

Question 4

what are features of netenous?

Answer 4

big eyes
small nose
delicate chin

Question 5

why are people attracted to babyfaces?

Answer 5

because for men they seem fertile and able to reproduce

Question 6

for the physical attraction theory, who are men attracted to?

Answer 6

baby face women - big eyes small nose etc

Question 7

for the physical attraction theory, who are women attracted to?

Answer 7

men with big muscles and sharp old faces as theyre a sign of old age and protectiveness

Question 8

when is physical attractiveness important?

Answer 8

at the start of a relationship - to kick start the talking

at the end to maintain interest

Question 9

what is the halo effect?

Answer 9

The idea that physical attractiveness tends to have a disproportionate effect on our judgement of a persons other traits. such as their strength/success

Question 10

according to the physical attraction theory what stereotypes do we have?

Answer 10

we have predisposed ideas about that attributes of an attractive person. for example, smart or successful.

Question 11

how did karen dion describe physical attractiveness stereotypes?

Answer 11

‘what is beautiful is good’

Question 12

what did dion find?

Answer 12

physically attractive people are often called strong, sociable and kind more than unattractive.

Question 13

what is the matching hypothesis?

Answer 13

• people date people who they believe are of similar attractiveness
• ## to do this we judge our own value

Question 14

acording to PA theory, why do we date people of similar attraction?

Answer 14

to avoid rejection

Question 15

who proposed matching hypothosis?

Answer 15

walster

Question 16

A01 for physical attraction summary

Answer 16

1) what is physical attraction
2) who are men and women attracted to
-netenous
- symmetry
3) halo effect
-Dion
4)matching hypothesis
-Walster

Question 17

evaluate physical attraction theory

Answer 17

• 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

Question 18

what was kerckhoff and davis reseach?

Answer 18

they compared the relations of students who had short term (<18 months) and long term relationship

Question 19

what is the filter theory?

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

what is the field of availables?

Answer 20

entire set of ptential patners we could get with

Question 21

what are the three filters?

Answer 21

social demography
similarity in attitudes
complimentarity

Question 22

what is social demography?

Answer 22

the factors that influence wether we meet the potential partner in the first place - proximity, culture, socieal class, religion, education, occupation etc etc

Question 23

what is the benefit of proximity?

Answer 23

accessibility - it is easy to see them

Question 24

what is homogamy?

Answer 24

idea you will most likeley form a relationship with someone socially and culturally similar

Question 25

what is similarity in attitudes?

Answer 25

partners will share similar values and moral codes as a result of the frist filter

Question 26

why is similarity in attitudes important?

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

what is complementarity?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

when is complimentarity important?

Answer 28

in the long term of a relationship
because it gives the feeling they have formed a whole and have more potential to flourish

Question 29

when is similiarity in attitudes important?

Answer 29

in the short term time of a relationship

Question 30

evaluate filter theory

Answer 30

+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

Question 31

what is self-disclosure?

Answer 31

revealing info about yourself

Question 32

describe self-discolsure in relatiosnhips

Answer 32

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

Question 33

what is social penetration?

Answer 33

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

Question 34

describe reciprocal self-disclosure

Answer 34

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

Question 35

who proposed self-discolsure?

Answer 35

taylor and altman

Question 36

what is crucial for self-discolsure in a relationshp?

Answer 36

balance

Question 37

other than balance, what is important for self-discolsure?

Answer 37

breadth and depth

Question 38

what analogy do Altman and Taylor use for breadth and death of self-discolsure?

Answer 38

the many layers of an onion is like a relationship, you reveal more as you go on

Question 39

explain breadth and depth at the start of a relationship

Answer 39

• 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

Question 40

explain breadth and depth at the end of a relationship

Answer 40

-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
-

Question 41

evaluate self-discolsure

Answer 41

+ 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

Question 42

who put forward FILTER THEORY?

Answer 42

Kerckhoff and davis 1962

Question 43

a01 summary for self d

Answer 43

Taylor and altman
1. what is self disclosure
2. social penetration
3. breath and depth
4. reciprocity
5. trust and intimacy

Question 44

a01 summary for filter

Answer 44

Keckoff and davis
1. field of available
2. filters
3. homogamy