Week 10 - Attraction and Close Relationships Flashcards
Determinants of Initial Attraction
- Proximity/exposure
- Similarity
- Reciprocal liking
- Physical attractiveness
Festinger et al (1950) housing study
In a university housing complex individuals were asked to list their 3 closest friends and 65% of the responses lived in the same building. Living by stairs and mailboxes had more upstairs friends.
Classroom Study (Moreland & Beach, 1992)
The more often a female confederate attended class the higher students would rate their attractiveness.
Reasons for proximity effect
- More likely to cross paths
- More exposure effect (more we are exposed to stimulus, more we come to like stimulus)
Why does exposure effect happen without conscious recognition?
- Increases perceptual fluency (easy to process)
- Repeated exposure to object + nothing bad happened = safe
Similarity between romantic partners
People become involved romantically with others who are equivalent in physical attractiveness
Friends, dates, and marriage partners similarity
- Demographic variables
- Opinions and personality
- Interpersonal style
- Interests and values
Two-stage model of the attraction process (Byrne, 1986)
Reasons for similarity-attraction
- Social validation function
- Attributions for disagreement
- Reciprocal liking
Curtis & Miller (1986) liking study - IV
Experimenter tells you the other participant likes you or doesn’t like you
Curtis & Miller (1986) liking study - DV
- How much do you like the person?
- How do you act toward them when you meet again?
- How much do they like you?
Curtis & Miller (1986) liking study - Results
Participants reported that they liked the research participant if they knew they liked them back and vice versa
Reasons for reciprocal liking
- Rewarding - feels good to be around someone similar
- Similarity - we like ourselves
Exceptions for reciprocal liking
- Playing hard to get - prefer people who are moderately selective
- Role of self-esteem - lower self-esteem individuals prefer people who criticise them
Physical attractiveness
The more attractive a person is the more positively they are viewed by others
Evidence of more attractive = more positive association
- babies look at attractive faces for longer
- attractive experimenters get more signatures
- attractive suspects get lower bail and fines
- attractive people get paid more
Attractive characteristics
- smooth skin, pleasant expression, youthfulness
- symmetry
- body shape - women (fertility), men (muscles)
Composite faces
Composite faces are more familiar and prototypical
When are composite faces more attractive
- When they’re made out of attractive vs average faces
- Contain an image of ourselves
What are stereotypes about attractive people?
- socially competent
- more sexual, happier, and more assertive
- in US higher in personal strength
- in Korea higher in integrity and concern
Self-fulfilling prophecy design- Snyder, Tanke, and Berscheid (1977)
Male P’s talked to female P’s on the phone and were shown pictures of attractive or unattractive photo of a woman
Self-fulfilling prophecy male results - Snyder, Tanke, and Berscheid (1977)
Males P’s were warmer and more sociable to the female P’s they believed were attractive.
Self-fulfilling prophecy female results - Snyder, Tanke, and Berscheid (1977)
When men responded to attractive female P’s the women rated the male’s as:
- attractive
- confident
- animated
- warm
What do men look for in a partner
- signs of reproductive fitness
- physical appearance (age, health)
- attractiveness, youth
What do women look for in a partner?
- resources
- economic and career achievements
- ambition, industriousness, good earning capacity
Conspicuous Consumption (Sundie et al., 2011)
Buying/displaying expensive items and showing off your resources/status
Who engages in conspicuous consumption?
Low investment men primed with a short term situation were high in conspicuous consumption
Perceptions of conspicuous consumption
Men were only attractive as short-term partners
Types of love
- Passionate love
- Companionate love
Passionate Love
- Intense longing for a person
- Physiological arousal
Companionate Love
Feelings of intimacy and affection
Triangular Theory of Love (Sternberg, 1988)
- Passion
- Intimacy
- Commitment
Intimacy
Self-disclosure - revelations about the self made to others
Higher self-disclosure is associated with?
- More positive affect and attraction in lab study
- greater satisfaction, commitment and love in couples
Gender effects of self-disclosure
Women disclose more than men but people disclose more when talking to women.
Misattribution of Arousal - Dutton and Aron (1974)
Men who had to cross a scary bridge to meet a female confederate were more likely to call her back presumably because they mistook their arousal for attraction rather than fear.
Social Exchange Theory
People are motivated in their relationships to maximise benefits and minimise costs
Investment Model (Rusbult, 1983)
What people put into a relationship that they can’t recover if the relationship ends - this is why people stay in relationships they aren’t satisfied in
Comparison Level
People are more satisfied when the reward/cost ratio
Comparison Level for Alternatives (CLalt)
Expectations about the level of rewards and punishments they would receive in an alternative relationship.
Equity Theory
People feel happiest when the balance of rewards and costs are the same for each person in the relationship
Comparison Level (CL)
Average expectation about the level of rewards and punishments they are likely to receive in a particular relationship
Comparison Level for Alternatives (CLalt)
Expectations about the level of rewards and punishments they would receive in an alternative relationship.
