Topic 11 - Liking, Love and Other Close relationships

Question 1

evolutionary social psychology

Answer 1

An extension of evolutionary psychology that views complex social behaviour as adaptive, helping the individual, kin and the species as a whole to survive.

Question 2

Assortative mating

Answer 2

a non-random coupling of individuals based on their resemblance to each other on one or more characteristics (age, ethnicity and culture)

Question 3

Reinforcement affect model

Answer 3

model of attraction which postulates that we like people who are around when we experience a positive feeling

Question 4

Minimax strategy

Answer 4

in relating to others we try to minimise the costs and maximise the rewards accrue

Question 5

Equity theory

Answer 5

people expect resources to be given out fairly, in proportion to their contribution

Question 6

Equity theory (Nancy grote, 1998)

Answer 6

people expect resources to be given out fairly, in proportion to their contribution

• benefits help
• costs hinder
• communal behaviour helps

Question 7

Consummate love

Answer 7

Sternberg argues that this is the ultimate form of love, involving passion, intimacy and commitment

Question 8

3 factors that contribute to an ongoing relationship

Answer 8

1. Personal dedication - positive attraction
2. mortal commitment
3. Constraint commitment - factors that make it costly to leave a relationship.

Question 9

Levinger (1980)’s 4 factors that herald an end of a relationship

Answer 9

1. A new life seems to be the only solution
2. Alternative partners are available
3. There is an expectation that the relationship will fail
4. There is a lack of commitment to a continuing relationship

Question 10

Partner regulation

Answer 10

Strategy that encourages a a partner to match an ideal standard of behaviour

Question 11

Sustaining long-term relationships (partner regulation)

Answer 11

1. enhancing a partner’s virtues and downplaying the faults
2. lowering expectations
3. adjusting their perception so their partner bears resemblance to their ideal

Question 12

Phases in the breakup of a relationship

Answer 12

Intrapsychic phase > dyadic phase > social phase > grave-dressing phase

Question 13

social psychological explanations of attraction

Answer 13

reinforcement, social exchange (increases benefits & reduces cost), equitable