Week 10 - Interpersonal Relationships Flashcards
What are social networks?
Extended circles of people we interact with regularly, whether or not we feel close to them
How do men and women differ in friendships?
Women share emotions and support, men share activities and talk about non-personal topics
Homosocial perspective
Proposes that both men and women’s friendships allow for intimacy but via difference social dynamics
What are cross-sex friendships?
Friendships between men and women that can provide insight into romantic inclinations
What is the audience problem in cross-sex friendships?
Assumptions about romantic involvement create social challenges
What are friends with benefits?
Casual sexual interactions between friends with no romantic expectations
What are chosen families?
Supportive friendship networks, often formed in LGBTQ+ communities
How do LGBTQ+ friendships differ?
They often fulfill belonging needs and include more diverse friend networks
What are mate preferences?
Traits people desire in romantic partners
What sex differences exist in mate preferences
Men prioritize looks, women prioritize financial prospects and ambition
How do mate preferences differ by sexual orientation?
Gay men prioritize looks more, lesbians blue honesty over income
What is parental investment theory?
Females are choosier in mate selection due to greater biological investment
What is the sociocultural perspective on mate preferences?
Sex differences result from social roles and gender norms
What is partner homogamy?
People tend to choose partners similar to themselves
What are dating scripts?
Cognitive stereotypes about how dates should unfold
What is paternalistic chivalry?
The expectation that men should be protective and provide for women in romantic contexts
What is the demand withdraw pattern?
A conflict style where one partner pressures and the other avoids, linked to divorce
How do same sex couples manage conflict?
They express more positive and fewer negative emotions
What is the divorce rate for first marriages?
About 40% in Western countries
Who is more likely to initiate divorce?
Women
How does divorce impact men vs women?
Women often face financial strain, men experience lower happiness and higher mortality
What is the impact of parenting on relationship satisfaction?
Parenting often lowers relationship satisfaction, especially for mothers
What are traditional parenting roles
Mothers are nurturing and fathers are less involved
How do same sex parents compare in parenting?
Gender has little impact on outcomes, outcome is similar
What is a hookup?
A casual sexual encounter, often without long term expectations
What challenges do disabled your face in dating?
Ableist portrayals, lack of inclusive narratives and assumptions of asexuality
What is the historical purpose of marriage?
Expanding networks, sharing resources and labour distribution
When did love-based marriage become ideal in the West?
By the late 1700s
What are contemporary marriage trends?
- Lower marriage rates
- More nonmarital births
- Delayed parenthood
Why does marriage differ by race and SES?
Marriage rates and patterns vary due to systemic inequality
What is an arranged marriage?
Third parties match couples based on compatibility, partners can refuse
What is an autonomous marriage?
Individuals choose their own partners based on love or attraction
What is polygyny?
Marriage between one man and multiple women
What is polyandry?
Marriage between one woman and multiple men
What is consensual nonmonogamy (CNM)?
Agreed upon non-exclusive relationships
What is polyamory?
Multiple romantic relationships with full knowledge and consent of all parties
What are health benefits of good marriages?
Better physical health and lower mortality
Who benefits more from marriage?
Men, but unhappy marriages are worse for women
What stereotypes exist around displays of affection?
Women show love through commitment, men show it through providing resources
What triggers jealousy in men vs women?
Men react more to sexual infidelity, women to emotional infidelity
What is intimate partner violence linked to?
Jealousy and control issues
What are relationship conflict triggers?
Annoyances, misunderstandings and emotional reactions
What is the effect of children on relationships?
Increases stress, lowers intimacy and satisfaction
How do relationship beliefs differ by culture?
Come cultures emphasize autonomy, others family approval
What did Knudson and Sadika (2023) study?
How disability is portrayed in hooking up/dating content
What did Knudson and Sadika (2023) find?
Ableist, heteronormative and white-dominant narratives
What is the effect of structural racism on family?
Shapes family structure and non-marital birth rates
What approach do people in happy relationships adopt?
An egalitarian approach
What is an egalitarian approach?
Emphasizes equality and equal treatment regarding making decisions, domestic tasks and childcare
What does conflict most often arise from?
Temporary annoyances and misunderstandings
What is the most common reason women cite for divorce?
Domestic violence
What is the ‘need to belong’?
A fundamental human need for close relationships that offer frequent positive interactions
How do social networks impact health?
Larger, supportive networks predict better physical and psychological health
What are passionate friendships?
Intense friendships often among sexual minority women that involve emotional closeness and physical touch
What contributes to relationship satisfaction?
- Equity
- Shared decision making
- Fairness in labour
What is the most equitable couple type?
Lesbian couples tend to divide labour most equally
What influences fairness perceptions in housework?
- Traditional gender roles
- National gender equality
- Job flexibility
What is the division of labour trend in heterosexual relationships?
Women do more housework and childcare, even if they are working
What is the evolutionary theory for jealousy?
Sex differences evolved to reduce cuckoldry and ensure support
How do gender norms affect consensual nonmonogamy?
Men are more accepted for nonmonogamy than women
How do mate preferences shift by relationship type?
Short term: physical attraction
Long term: stability and personality
What is the divorce rate for autonomous marriages?
Roughly 50%, much higher than arranged marriages
When do most people start dating?
Most begin in adolescence, regardless of sex or orientation,
What is the sociocultural theory of mate preferences?
Preferences reflect social roles and access to resources
What is the evolutionary theory of mate preference?
Preferences evolved to maximize reproductive success
What is the relationship between love and housework?
Men who love more tend to do more joint tasks
Common conflict topics in relationships
Sex, money, parenting, domestic labour
