Section 8: Love and Romantic Relationships Flashcards
What makes love different from friendship?
Friendship = affectionate relationship but not romantic Love = intimacy, trust, caring
3 reasons we find some people more attractive than others:
- Similarity
- Familiarity
- Physical Attractiveness
Similarity:
More than 50% = higher chance of stability and satisfaction
Definition = age, race, religion, social class, education, attitudes, etc.
Familiarity breeds attraction because:
more attracted to seeing someone often over time
ex. school, work
- Mere exposure effect
Mere exposure effect:
our liking for people/objects increases the more we in counter them
-Moreland and Beach tested this = proved right = naturalistic study
What physical features are generally seen as beautiful?
faces = symmetrical women = large eyes, prominent cheek bones, small nose, wide smile men = broad jaw
Physical attractiveness is not
universal
and changes across time and culture
Positive judgments about physically attractive individuals =
assertive, confident, intelligent, happier, more social skills, active sex life, more friends
Negative judgments =
The role of Vanity
Men vs Women: Valuing physical attractiveness
Men = appearance more, more likely to desire multiple partners Women = economic ability and success
2 Evolutionary reasonings behind men vs women values
- Natural selection
Men = find multiple female mates: multiple kids
Women = search for males who provide resources for offspring - Socialization
Men = bread makers
Women = home makers
Social exchange Theory (Thibault and Kelley):
romantic relationship maximizes rewards and minimizes costs – more satisfying and last longer
- Rewards: companionship, emotional support, resource support, sex
- Costs: time and effort that you invest to maintain relationship, making compromises, suffering together, giving up others opportunities
Satisfaction and Commitment:-Comparison level(CL):
expectations for that relationship
High level = very rewarding relationship
Low level = unrewarding relationship
Satisfaction and Commitment: -Comparison level for alternatives (Clalt):
what we would expect to get in a different relationship
Ex. Live in Decatur with husband or live with hot man in Paris
Presence or absence of alternatives can change commitment to relationship
Satisfaction and Commitment: Investment =
resources that an individual has put into a relationship that they cannot recover if relationship ends
Satisfaction and Commitment: Overall =
Satisfaction = rewards – costs – CL Commitment = satisfaction + investments – Clalt
Equity Theory (Walster) =
We are happiest when relationships are equitable (1/1 ratio of benefits/costs)
Equity- more benefits
Are not equity= less satisfying
The average level of rewards is a better predictor than saying equity
Triarchis theory of love (Sternberg) 3 Important dimensions:
- Passion
- Intimacy
- Commitment
Passion:
intense emotions and physical attractions (if only this= infatuation)
Intimacy:
feelings of connection, closeness, mutual understanding, support
Commitment:
deliberate choice to be with someone (empty love= only if commitment)
Passion + intimacy =
romantic love, high arousal, intense attraction, fear of rejection
Intimacy + commitment =
compassionate
Passion + commitment =
absorb love/fatuous
All 3 =
best love
3 types of Attachment styles =
- Secure
- Anxious
- Avoidant
Secure Attachment =
- cry in distress, calm down when mom comes back
2. stable relationships: affection openly and emotions
Anxious Attachment =
- cry when parents leave but when come back = very angry (hot/cold)
- more willing to be in commitment/long term but jealous (clingy)
Avoidant Attachment =
- Don’t react at all
2. hard to trust partners, feel like love is doomed to fail
