Social Psychology #2

Question 1

Factors that underlie attraction

Answer 1

1. Repeated contact and the mere-exposure effect
2. Physical attraction
3. Similarity and homogamy
4. Reciprocity (effort with each other)

Question 2

Types of Love:

Romantic or Passionate Love:

Answer 2

“Wildly romantic state, tender and sexual feelings, elation and pain, anxiety and relief, altruism and jealousy coexist in a confusion of feelings.”

Key Elements: Obsession, Wildly fluctuating emotions and physiological arousal in the presence of love

Question 3

Types of Love:

Companionate Love

Answer 3

“Affection we feel for those whom our lives are deeply entwined”

Key Elements: Companionship, mutual trust and care

Question 4

Types of Love:

Parental Love

Answer 4

1. Mother-Child bond is universal
2. Good evolutionary reasons to assume a considerable genetic contribution
3. Infant strategies for “being loveable” include smiling, looking cute etc

Question 5

STUDY: Janowiak & Fischer (1992)

Romantic or Passionate Love

Answer 5

Study of 168 Cultures found evidence of romantic love in nearly 90% with the evidence unclear for the rest

However, people in individualist cultures appear to put more emphasis on love as the basis for marriage

Question 6

Lantz, Schultz & O’Hara 1977:

Answer 6

Found a steady increase in themes in USA Magazines between 1741 and 1865:
- Love at first sight
- We will only ever have one true love
True love will conquer all
There is a perfect match for us
- We must be true to our hearts rather than our heads

Question 7

Romantic love involves..

Answer 7

Arousal and a set of emotions and beliefs (cognitions). People who are ‘in love’ also tend to behave in particular ways.

Question 8

Romeo and Juliet Effect

Answer 8

Parental opposition can intensify passionate attraction

Question 9

Averill and Boothroyd 1977

Answer 9

85 Subjects aged 18-45 (M & F)
Given newspaper accounts of Floyd and Ellen and examples of ‘great romances’.
Asked to rate own most intense love experience in terms of its resemblance to the ‘romantic ideal’.

Results:

• 40% at each of the extreme ends of scale
• Written descriptions of their experiences were coded, and it was found that there was no clear difference between the descriptions of those who rate their experience high or low on resemblance to the romantic ideal

Question 10

Romantic love as a syndrome:

Answer 10

Idealisation of the other, suddenness of onset, observing thoughts, willingness to make sacrifices

Question 11

WALSTER STUDY 1966

Physical Attractiveness:

Answer 11

Study of 752 University students
- The factor measured that the strongest relationship to their desire to date their parents in the future, for both men and women, was physical attractiveness.

Question 12

Matching Hypothese:

Answer 12

People tend to settle into relationships with others who have a similar level of physical attractiveness as themselves. We kind of intuitively know what level we are. People with similar levels of physical attractiveness more likely last.

Question 13

Physical Attractiveness subjective?

Langlois and Roggman (1990)

Answer 13

Computer generated ‘average’ (symmetrical) faces are more attractive than real faces

• Cross cultural studies show evidence of considerable agreement on human facial attractiveness (note: There is must less agreement of body attractiveness/more complex)
• However, judgments of attractiveness are influenced by other characteristics, behaviour etc increases physical attractiveness
  (ie. if you can’t be good looking, be nice)
• Symmetry of face historically signifies good health, good nutrition of uterus.

Question 14

Evolutionary Arguments of physical attractiveness

Answer 14

The importance of physical attractiveness in sexual attraction and partner choice is often argued to have an evolutionary basis in indicating good health
BUT partner choice is more complex than physical health, even from a evolutionary perspective

Question 15

Differential Parental Investment

Answer 15

A women tends to make a greater investment in any single pregnancy and child than a man (certainly biologically)
The cost of sex is potentially huge to a women and minimal to a man

Question 16

BUSS 1989)

Answer 16

Studied men and women from 37 cultures

Findings: Kindness and intelligence is valued by both genders

Question 17

Men prefer

Answer 17

1. Traits that signify Fertility (symmetrical face, smooth skin, 7:10 waist-hip ratio)
2. Younger women (more fertile)

Question 18

Women prefer

Answer 18

1. Men with high status, ambition, dominance (abler to provide for children)
2. Men that are 2-5 years older

Question 19

Imitation

Answer 19

• The copying of another person or social norm

- Two sources; Social norms, perceived norms

Question 20

Social Norms:

Answer 20

The rules that implicitly or explicitly govern members of a group

Question 21

Perceived Norms:

Answer 21

People’s perception of the social norm - which may or may not be accurate but is important in influencing their behaviour

Question 22

Social Role:

Answer 22

The behaviour that a member in a given position in a group is expected to perform

Question 23

Status Hierarchy:

Answer 23

The roles that reflect that distribution of power in a group

Question 24

ZIMBARDO PRISON STUDY

Answer 24

Recruited college students to act as prisoners and guards

Found that they tended to assume to attitudes and behaviours associated with these roles

Question 25

Deindividuation

Answer 25

When behaviours become acceptable in a group context that would not be outside that context

Question 26

Dehumanisation

Answer 26

When “victims” are not seen as a real person

Question 27

Conformity

Answer 27

A change in beliefs or behaviours to follow a group’s norm’s

Question 28

Informational social influence

Answer 28

Applies when we use others as a guide to what is right

Question 29

Normative social influence

Answer 29

Applies when we want to fit in for the sake of fitting in

Question 30

Asch 1956 study

CONFORMITY

Answer 30

Aim was to see if the subject would conform to the answers that majority of the others said (which was obviously wrong)
Results:
- One 1/4 of participants continued to always call out the correct answer
- Most did not see the line differently but were exceedingly embarrassed at stating a different line to the others in public
- Did not conform to the same extent when they had an ally in non-conformity

Question 31

BOND & SMITH 1996

Answer 31

133 studies over 40 years found the average participant conformed 29% of the time

• Studies have been done in 17 cultures
• Conformity occurs in all cultures, but is highest in collectivist cultures
• More conformity occurred in studies that took place at an earlier date

Question 32

Reasons for Conformity:

Answer 32

• Imitation is a key feature of human learning, so we are predisposed towards it
• Others do provide information on what is right (informational social influence)
• Non-conformity threatens the individual’s desire for social approval and belonging
• THUS; it is very hard to do the right thing when everyone else is doing the wrong thing

Question 33

Performance in groups: Decision making

Answer 33

• Groups will make different decisions to individuals

- It is important to understand group decision making as group they affect our lives

Question 34

Group Polarisation:

Answer 34

The tendency of group members’ opinions to become more extreme (in the same direction as their initial opinions) after group discussion

Question 35

Group Polarisation: Reasons

Answer 35

• Informational-influence: exposure to similar views
• Social comparison: members strive to express a group idea, desire to conform and be distinctive
• Group discussion encourages statement and restatement of your views

Question 36

Group think

Answer 36

A mode of thinking that people engage in when involved in a cohesive in-group.

Members are striving for agreement overrides their motivation to realistically think about alternative action

Question 37

Processes in group think

Answer 37

• A highly cohesive group
• Leader preference for a certain decision
• Insulation of the group from outside opinions - no reality check from outside group

Question 38

Invulnerability

Answer 38

The illusion of invulnerability and willingness to take extraordinary risks. This may cause them to ignore clear danger warnings

Question 39

Rationalisation

Answer 39

Participants in groupthink construct rationalisation that dismisses warnings and other negative feedback

i.e. makes the decision and then looks for the evidence that supports the decision

Question 40

Pressure on dissent

Answer 40

Group members often apply direct pressure on anyone who questions the validity of arguments supporting a decision

Question 41

Self-censorship

Answer 41

Group members tend to censor themselves when they have opinions or ideas the deviate from the group consensus

Question 42

Illusion of unanimity

Answer 42

Group members share an illusion that the majority view is unanimous

Question 43

Consideration of few alternative

Answer 43

Group considers few alternatives, often only two

Question 44

Time pressure

Answer 44

A decision must be made in a short period of time