W7.a

Question 1

The purpose of seeking connectedness

Answer 1

Need to belong: Fundamental human need to form and maintain strong, stable interpersonal relationships

Question 2

What is relationship? Interpersonal relationship?

Answer 2

An association between two or more people

Interpersonal relationship: between two people

Question 3

One way to classify different types of relationships

Answer 3

Patterns of exchange

Exchange rules: patterns according to which relationship partners exchange rewards and punishments

Question 4

What is “Relational Models Theory”?

Answer 4

Alan Fiske (1992)
Different relationships are governed by different rules of interaction/'exchange'

Four 'relational models':
Communal Sharing (CS)
Authority Ranking (AR)
Equality Matching (EM)
Market Pricing (MP)

Question 5

Communal Sharing:
Dominant exchange rules;
Related concepts;
Example/domain

Answer 5

Each according to need;
Care;
Family

Question 6

Authority Ranking:
Dominant exchange rules;
Related concepts;
Example/domain

Answer 6

Superior decide for subordinates;
Respect;
Military

Question 7

Equality Matching:
Dominant exchange rules;
Related concepts;
Example/domain

Answer 7

Equal proportions/direct reciprocity;
Equality;
Peer groups

Question 8

Market pricing:
Dominant exchange rules;
Related concepts;
Example/domain

Answer 8

Benefits proportional to cost;
Equity;
Business

Question 9

What is “attraction”?

Answer 9

Desire for a voluntary relationship

Question 10

What is “liking”?

Answer 10

Positive evaluation of an object (another person)

Question 11

Factors that influence attraction and liking

Answer 11

Physical attractiveness
Similarity
Positive interaction: Proximity, familiarity and mimicry

Question 12

The effects of physical attractiveness

Answer 12

Stereotype that physically attractive people are warm, friendly, … ‘Beautiful is good’

Can contributes to self-fulfilling prophecy, which can reinforce the stereotype. Woman and man talk on the phone

Question 13

Why similarity increases liking and attraction?

Answer 13

Similarity encourages positive interaction over common interests, etc.

Similar others validate our beliefs and attitudes (positive reinforcement)

We assume similar others like us: inferred reciprocal attraction
Reciprocity: we like people who like us.

Question 14

Why proximity increases liking and attraction?

Answer 14

Proximity increases frequency of (positive) interaction
Proximity increases familiarity
Similar people may live/work near each other

NB. The internet may be leading to an emphasis on “psychological” over “geographical” proximity

Question 15

Why familiarity increases liking and attraction?

Answer 15

Mere exposure increases attraction

Question 16

Why mimicry increases liking and attraction?

Answer 16

Face to face interaction opens up possibility of non-verbal processes to impact liking

Non conscious mimicry (Chartrand & Bargh, 1999)

• Participants interacted with face-rubbing or foot-shaking confederates
• Participants non-consciously mimicked confederates’ actions

Question 17

In building close relationships, what is “self-disclosure”?

Answer 17

Self-disclosure: process of revealing information about the self

As a relationship develops self-disclosure increases in:

• Breadth: more topics
• Depth: level of intimacy

Question 18

What are the consequences of self-disclosure?

Answer 18

Self-disclosure can deepen and strengthen relationships because:

• Self-disclosure increases liking. E.g., mutual self-disclosure can increase perceived similarity
• Signals trust in relationship partner. E.g., via vulnerability
• Better enables behavioural coordination. (Relationship partners know about each others’ preferences and abilities)

Question 19

Who tend to disclose?

Answer 19

Women

People from individualistic cultures than collectivist cultures. (Partly because of relational mobility)

Question 20

Interdependence and close relationships

Answer 20

Interdependence: each partners’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviours influence the other.

Close relationship involves strong and frequent interdependence:
Affective; Behavioral; Cognitive

Question 21

Cognitive interdependence

Answer 21

Self-other representations overlap

• Intertwining of concepts of self and partner
• Inclusion of other in Self (IOS)

Describe themselves and partners
Rate closeness with IOS
RT task: classify traits as partner-descriptive (yes/no)
Correlated with reported closeness

Question 22

Behavioural interdependence

Answer 22

Each person has influence on other partner’s decisions, activities and plans

Moving to a communal sharing orientation, in which the mode of interaction is ‘each according to need’:
Giving becomes less contingent on possibility of reciprocation.

Aron et al (1991):
divide sum of money; knowledge of role in allocation (when give money to close friend, not expect reciprocation)

Question 23

Affetive interdependence

Answer 23

Intimacy: positive emotional bond that includes understanding and support

With increasing closeness, relationships move beyond mere reciprocal disclosure to deeper relations of:

• Acknowledgment
• Acceptance/understanding
• Emotional responsiveness
• Increasing sensitivity and care

Primary base of the important social support functions played by relationships