Social psych test 2

Question 1

Why do humans form relationships?

Answer 1

Humans are described “social animals”… we have a need to belong, which means there is a drive to form and maintain stable, positive interpersonal relationships.

Question 2

Relationships tend to meet several important psychological needs, what are they?

Answer 2

Intimacy (connection/close contact), being nurturant (looking after someone or being looked after), reassurance of self worth (we want others to look at us and see our worth), assistance (direct tangible assistance, through social support) and social integration (being open, freely sharing concerns/connections.

Question 3

In the Holt-Lund, smith and Layton study on affect on mortality and relationships, what did they find?

Answer 3

They found having a positive supportive interrelationship that provide support and assistance has an affect on reduced rates of morality which are normally associated with better physical health. People who have good interpersonal relationships liver longer, and have more meaningful lives.

Question 4

What is proximity?

Answer 4

Proximity or geographical awareness is a powerful determinant of attraction… involves mere exposure effect which is being repeatedly exposed to someone or something, we then come to like it. (Interaction/ familiarity) or not depending on inital interaction lmao

Question 5

What did the study by Festinger and colleg. Demonstrate? (MIT students)

Answer 5

the study demonstrated that attraction and proximity rely not only on actual physical distance, but also on psychological functional distance.

Question 6

What is functional proximity(distance)?

Answer 6

Refers to the architectural design that determines which people you cross paths with most often.

Question 7

In the Byrne and Nelson study on similarity , what did they find?

Answer 7

It was a study utilizing participant questionnaire, they answered it and then they got other participants to read questionnaire to either a similar different person than them. The greater the proportion that the questionnaire was similar to them, the more they liked the other person.

Question 8

Why is similarity important?

Answer 8

It can be validating (helps us feel that what we think and feel is valuable and correct-validation can lead to attraction), ideals (our ideals for a potential partner come from the self. We want someone with similar ideals) and rewarding (interacting with and connecting with someone similar to us is rewarding)

Question 9

What are three factors that affect reciprocity?

Answer 9

Perceived motives(if we see someone liking us, we may then reciprocate those behaviours), self-esteem (receiving an unfavorable review and then influencing our reciprocity) and whether we are gaining liking/esteem (we tend to like indiviudals where we are gaining esteem..)

Question 10

We associate physical attractiveness with various positive characteristics, which is referred to as?

Answer 10

“What is beautiful is good” stereotype. There is little support for this stereotype though. More so people just get more attention and are able to develop more skills.

Question 11

What is matching phenomenon ?

Answer 11

is the tendency for men and women to choose as partners those who are a “good match” to themselves in attractiveness (and other traits).

Question 12

In the study by White (1980) on matching or mismatching longevity, what did they find?

Answer 12

The study examined whether similarity in physical attractiveness predicts relationship longevity.. they found that partner attractiveness was higher in married couples and lower in casual dating. The more serious the relationship, the more attractiveness needed.the further the feelings of attractiveness, the further the decline in feelings of love.

Question 13

If you are dissimilar to someone , what can it impact? (3)

Answer 13

It can impact things like equity concerns, marketplace, or belief in marketplace…..
Equity concerns= there is often a big focus in relationships on maintaining equity. Having a mismatch in attractiveness can create imbalance in partners and as a result, the less attractive partner might feel compelled to contribute more to relationship. Uneven balance.
Marketplace= this suggests that because physical attractiveness is seen as desirable, the good looking partner will have more options to form more relationships. Larger marketplace.
Belief in marketplace= the unattractive partner is aware or will believe that the sexy one is flirting and the unattractive one may become anxious.

Question 14

Recent research distinguishes two main categories of affection/love, what are they?

Answer 14

Passionate love, and companionate love.

Question 15

What is companionate love?

Answer 15

Companionate love is the feeling of intimacy and affection we feel toward someone with whom our lives are deeply intertwined . Ex/ family and friends.

Question 16

What is passionate love?

Answer 16

Is feelings of intense belonging, accompanied by physiological arousal, obsessive thoughts lol.. when our love is reciprocated we are happy, but when things arent going well we are sad and in despair.

Question 17

Hatfield and Walster contended that passionate love requires 3 conditions?

Answer 17

1) appropriate target/potential lover— has to be similar to you, interact with you frequently and that is available.
2) physiological arousal that you believe is a reaction to your potential lover—- you need to experience physiological aerousal and need to attribute it to the indiviudal.
3) an understanding and acceptance of the concept of passionate love— you need to understand and be socialized that the idea of passionate love is accepted and present in that culture.

Question 18

Tell me about the Dutton and Aron bridge study?

Answer 18

Male participants approached by female confederates with a request to fill out a survey. There was a fear or non-fear arousing variable. The bridge. They asked for a phone call follow up, and those who were approached on the bridge called back 50% of the time, vs. 12.5% on non-fear arousing variable. Showcased that fear arousal can trigger arousal which can trigger passion.

Question 19

In a study when people were asked to describe ‘what is love’, what was found?

Answer 19

It was found that people utilize more companionate love when describing ‘what is love’. Trust, honesty, friendship, respect… all features of companionate love,

Question 20

What is social penetration theory?

Answer 20

Argues that relationships develop as a result of gradual increases in the DEPTH and BREADTH of self-disclosure. Depth is how deep and breadth is in how many topics or areas are disclosed. Self-disclosure can lead to an establishment of relationship

Question 21

What are the variety of theories that predict relationship satisfaction and whatever people stay or leave relationships?

Answer 21

Reward model, social exchange theory(and investment theory) and equity theory.

Question 22

What is the rewards model?

Answer 22

Focuses on the rewards and costs that indivuduals experience from a relationship … rewards/cost ratio… rewards can be like how supportive your partner is or the quality of the person when you interact… costs can be like different personalities, sacrificing of potential career opportunities. It is not tangible materials.
When the rewards exceed the costs, people are mostly satisfied with the relationship.

Question 23

What is social exchange theory?

Answer 23

This Theory looks at how people feel about a relationship depends on their perceptions of the rewards/costs , the kind of relationship they deserve and the probability that they could have a better relationship with someone.

Question 24

What is comparison level and comparison level for alternatives? (In regard to social exchange theory)

Answer 24

comparison level is based on peoples expectations about the levels of rewards and costs that they feel like they deserve in a relationship… people who have a high comparison level might expect more and low comparison level might need less… it essentially predicts satisfaction.

Comparison level for alternatives… peoples expectations about the level of rewards and costs that they would recieve in an alternative relationship.. this can predict commitment.. people high on comparison level for alternatives may want to be alone than in their current relationship. People low on this may perceive fewer alternatives to the relationships even if it is less rewarding.

Question 25

What is the investment model?

Answer 25

The theory that peoples commitment to a relationship depends on their satisfaction with the relationship in terms of rewards, costs, and a comparison level; their comparison level for alertenative and HOW MUCH THEY HAVE INVESTED IN THE RELATIONSHIP. Investments include anything that people have put into a relationship that they can’t get back… they more you invest, the more motivated you are to stay.

Question 26

What is equity theory?

Answer 26

The theory that indiviudals satisfaction is guided by perceptions of whether the infants and outcomes of each person in the relationship is balanced. Equitable relationships are the most stable and satisfying. People are motivated to restore equity regardless of whether they over benefit or under benefit from the inequity. Balance is key. Both people work towards equity.

Question 27

What are some responses to inequity in the equity theory?

Answer 27

1) you might SEEK ACTUAL EQUITY— preferred by underbenefitter, that person might reduce their contributions or demand more contributions from partner. 2) SEEK PSYCHOLOGICAL EQUITY— preferred by overbenefitter, changing your perception of the inequity. Changing how you think. Ex/ moving citied for your new job partner left everything behind and you end up changing your perception to think about how much job opportunity there is for them. 3) END RELATIONSHIP- leaving the relationship.. score cards then get balanced out equally if you both leave.

Question 28

What are the 3 main reasons why a relationship by dissolve or end?

Answer 28

Dissimilarity Low rewards/high costs, attractive alternatives, minimal investment Boredom.

Question 29

What is the definition of pro social behaviour?

Answer 29

Any act performed with the goal of benefitting another person.

Question 30

There is generally 2 motives for pro social behaviour, what are they?

Answer 30

Self interest- helping gets us something Altruism- desire to help others, even if it involved costs the the helper. Differentiating sometimes can be difficult.

Question 31

What are the two theories/explanations that have been purposed for why people engage in pro social behaviour?

Answer 31

Evolutionary theory of helpng and social norms for helping.

Question 32

What is the evolutionary theory of helping ?

Answer 32

With regard to pro social behaviour… it’s the idea that altruistic acts should only be favoured by natural selection if they provide a survival or reproductive advantage. Prosocial behaviour that occurs because of kin selection… people are more likely to help family members opposed to non-family members if the situation is life threatening.

Question 33

What is the social norms for helping?

Answer 33

Every culture has social Norma’s that argue that we should help others whenever possible. Examples of norms that guide Prosocial behaviour include: reciprocity principle and social responsibility norm… Reciprocity principle- we are more likely to help someone if they have helped us. Social responsibility norm- dictates that we should help those who are in need, regardless if they have helped us in the past or will help us in the future.

Question 34

What did the model diagram purposed by German researcher Udo Ruldoplh and colleg.. demonstrate on sympathy and predicament?

Answer 34

Helping is mediated by peoples explanations of the predicament and their resulting degree of sympathy. If the ATTTIRBUTION is that the person has problems that are external, uncontrollable by person, we are more sympathetic and likely to help.. but if the ATTRIBUTION is internal, controllable by the person, there is less sympathy and we are less likely to help.

Question 35

What does prosocial beahviour and just world beliefs/justice concerns demonstrate?

Answer 35

Just world beliefs is the thinking and ideas that the world is fair and people get what they deserve… if someone appears to be suffering undeservedly , throws off the world view. 2 ways to fix it… One is to DEROGATE them , which is by thinking of them as bad or immoral and that they are the kind of person who deserves to be in the position they are. Second way is it do something aand remedy their situation. Reduce their suffering… Both can rectify your just world view.

Question 36

In the Miller study on justice concerns, what did they find?

Answer 36

They found that those who percieve the world as a fair and just place are MORE LIKELY to help if they see their help will make a difference.

Question 37

What is social exchange theory?

Answer 37

A theory that human interactions are transactions that aim to maximize rewards and minimize costs. Ex/ costs and rewards perceived for helping someone.

Question 38

Discuss the Darnley and Bateson - Good Samaritan study?

Answer 38

Researchers told participants they needed to discuss a sermon. Variable was time pressure, low, medium and high… on the way, students saw a slumped person… results showed that significantly less people helped in the high pressure condition, moderate in the moderate and low hurry condition many people helped. There is a cost to stop and help.

Question 39

Describe the McMullen and Austin - lie study?

Answer 39

Essentially, participants in this study were induced into telling alive.. some were leaked information on a MC test, those who had been leaked info then lied to the confederate peoples. Those who didnt get leaked info were fine. At the end, the researchers found then when asked to donate time.. those who had lied were donating significantly more time than those who didnt lie… Essentially, lying will impact you and then you’ll try to escape that mood by helping more.

Question 40

What is negative state relief model?

Answer 40

A theory that people help others in order to reduce their own distress caused by the victims suffering… essentially getting away from our own negative feelings.

Question 41

What is empathy altruism model?

Answer 41

Theory that genuine concern for the victims suffering can motivate people to help others even when there is no personal reward— this perspective allows for self interested helping and the helping empathy behaviour.

Question 42

Describe the study on altruism vs self interest— the wheelchair one?

Answer 42

Participants listened to radio, heard about carols accident. Ended up in wheelchair. Couldn’t keep up with work. One manipulation in experiment was to induce empahty .. put yourself in carols shows, think about it blah blah.. and manipulated costs.. in high cost they said carol will be back in your class soon and same pod… Results: high empathy and high cost had students more likely to agree to help carol. But low empathy and low cost had them less likely to help.

Question 43

What do Miller and Colleg argue with regard to the belief of self interest?

Answer 43

They believe that we overestimate the belief in the power of self-interest which then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy… so like not getting involved in something because people might see it as strange or suspicious.