W10 Social Influences

Question 1

Bowlby’s Model of Attachment

Answer 1

Theory in which attachment figures (caregivers for infants and later in development peers, friends, and romantic partners) serve several functions necessary for survival—providing a safe haven to return to in times of stress and being a secure base from which to launch explorations into the world

Question 2

Social baseline theory

Answer 2

Evolutionary argument that the presence of a benevolent partner reduces our vigilance to threat through risk distribution

Question 3

Risk distribution

Answer 3

In ancestral times, when the social groups size increases, the spread of environmental for each person in the group decreases

Question 4

Perceived Support

Answer 4

the perception that others will be available to help in the future if needed

Question 5

Actual, tangible, enacted, received support

Answer 5

Support that is emotional or tangible

Question 6

Invisible support

Answer 6

Support that is given when the receiver does not notice it

Question 7

Thriving through relationships

Answer 7

the model of thriving through relationships proposes that social relationships is one way for individuals to thrive (in aspects such as SWB, mental, physical and relational health)

Question 8

Relational Catalyst Support

Answer 8

relationships help to facilitate the reaching of goals and overcoming of challenges by serving as a catalyst for personal growth and thriving. closely attached to bowlby’s attachment theory

Question 9

Self-Expansion Theory

Answer 9

People are motivated to expand their self concept through perspectives and resources, and this occurs when the individual and the person they are close to has concepts that overlap. this can also apply to looser ties.

Question 10

Michaelangelo phenomenon

Answer 10

Social partners are also active participants in their partners’ personal development - they promote or hinder growth towards the ideal self through partner affirmations

Question 11

Ideal self

Answer 11

the ideal self is an individual’s explicit/clearly defined set of goals to reach for self, or a vague ambition/aspiration.

Question 12

Partner affirmation

Answer 12

Partners who see their partners as already possessing the attributes of their ideal self , and treat their partner as if they are that ideal self, actually elicit aspects of that ideal self through interactions that build one another up.

Question 13

Compassionate goals

Answer 13

Goals that are supportive of others and are motivated by genuine concern for the other person - sees relationships with others as an ecosystem and acts interdependently

Question 14

Self-image goals

Answer 14

Goals that work towards constructing and maintaining a desirable public and private image of self, motivated by concern for one’s owns needs and desires - egocentric and acts independently. sees relationships as zero-sum affairs

Question 15

Passionate vs companionate love

Answer 15

Passionate love - feelings of attraction and excitement for another partner
Companionate love - feelings of liking and warmth for someone else

(both of which tie to the rewards system)

Question 16

find-remind-bind model

Answer 16

model of gratitude that has social functions:

• signals which people makes good partners
• reminds us of their generosity, good attributes
• promotes behaviours that facilitate bonding & intimacy

Question 17

capitalization

Answer 17

people often respond to positive events by telling someone else about it, to receive more positive affect through validation

Question 18

active-constructive repsonses

Answer 18

entail excitement and enthusiasm, and interest in continuing the conversation

Question 19

passive-constructive responses

Answer 19

entail calm emotions of low activation, but shows restrained information in the interaction

Question 20

active-destructive responses

Answer 20

shows interest in interaction but is responding negatively and discouragingly, diminishing the positive event

Question 21

passive-destructive

Answer 21

shows little interest in interaction and shrugs off topic, steering the conversation to something else

Question 22

objective social variables

Answer 22

factors that are based on evidence rather than opinions or emotions, focusing in quantifiable variables such as number of social ties, frequency of shared activities etc.

Question 23

social integration

Answer 23

active engagement and participation in a broad range of social relationships

Question 24

subjective social variables

Answer 24

factors that are based more on opinions and feelings about social relationships rather than actual evidence - for instance, social support. how well supported an individual feels, and is part of a social network

Question 25

social support

Answer 25

a social network of psychological and material resources that can benefit an individual

Question 26

daily diary methodology

Answer 26

individuals report on their relationships on a regular basis (i.e. 3 times a day)

Question 27

SWB

Answer 27

low NA, high PA, life satisfaction

Question 28

health

Answer 28

complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not just the absence of diseases

Question 29

health behaviours

Answer 29

behaviours/activities that promote health such as no smoking, exercising, dietary consumption

Question 30

ostracism

Answer 30

excluding and ignoring an individual (denial of social relationships)

Question 31

shunning

Answer 31

temporary period where a member is stripped off social contact for punishment

Question 32

confidante

Answer 32

a trusted person whom secrets and vulnerabilities can be shared with

Question 33

formal vs informal relationships

Answer 33

formal - bound by rules of politeness, need to exert self-control
informal - casual relationships, can express thoughts more freely, more authentic (more comfortable and hence probably more rewarding)

Question 34

psychopathy

Answer 34

inability to empathise, egocentricity

Question 35

narcissism

Answer 35

need for self-admiration, glorification

Question 36

Machiavellianism

Answer 36

being cunning, strategic or manipulative in a relationship