Week 3: Major Theoretical Frameworks Flashcards
What are the 3 assumptions of evolutionary psychology?
1) Natural and sexual selection has sculpted our species
2) Men and women differ only to the extent that they have faced different reproductive dilemmas i.e. sex diffs
3) Cultures determine whether certain behaviours are adaptive and cultures change faster than human nature does
What is the function of natural selection?
Aids in the selection of traits that help us survive (natural selection) and reproduce (sexual selection)
What are the types of sexual selection behaviours?
Intersexual selection vs. intrasexual competition
What different reproductive dilemmas do men and women face?
1) Parental investment – time and effort for offspring
2) Paternal uncertainty
What is the role of culture in evolution and adaptive behaviours?
Culture determines whether evolved behaviour is adaptive
What is social role theory?
Gender division in labour influences stereotype formation – men = agentic role, women = communal role
What is mating strategy?
Coordinated set of tactics & behaviours that a person uses, often unconsciously, to attract and retain mates
What are the types of mating strategies?
Short-term vs. long-term
Evolutionary theorising suggests that ppl adopt either strategy
What are the similarities/differences in mating strategies between men and women?
- Men more interested in ST mating than women
- Both men & women equally interested in LT mating
What is a critique of evolutionary theories of mating strategies?
Ppl don’t seem to approach r/s in one mindsets or the other – initial trajectories of ST & LT r/s are virtually identical, do not differ by gender
What are the 2 criteria that enhance mate value and drives mate choices?
1) Good investment in mate & offspring
2) Good genes
What are the 3 standard mating criteria?
1) Warmth/Trustworthiness – good invstmt
2) Attractiveness/Vitality – good genes
3) Status/Resources – good invstmt & good genes
What are the results of the 37 cultures study?
Across cultures,
- Women care more about earning prospects than men
- Men care more about PA than women
What are the contingencies of the 37 cultures study?
1) Results can also be explained as a function of social roles – sex diffs. are much smaller in nations with more gender equality
2) Sex differences in desire for lookigs/earning prospects disappear once ppl have met an actual partner – ppl’s stated mate prefs. don’t predict their actual attraction IRL
How do women’s preferences for male dominance & competitiveness vary?
Corresponds to menstrual cycle (i.e. probability of conception)
What is social exchange theory/interdependence theory?
A theory w/ concepts to u’stand and predict INTERACTIONS among 2 ppl
More dyadic and used to explain how r/s are maintained (i.e. LT r/s)
What is social exchange?
Successful r/s entails mutual exchange of desirable rewards with others
What is reward, cost and outcome in interactions?
Reward: Tangible/intangible benefit
Costs: Not of benefit to you
Outcome = Net profit/loss = Rewards - Costs
What is a key characteristic of costs?
Particularly influential b/c bad is stronger than good - negative events carry more psychological weight than desirable events do
What is the ideal ratio of rewards & costs in a r/s?
Rewards to costs: 5 to 1 if we’re to stay satisfied with a close r/s
What is approach motivation?
Gain positive outcomes
What is avoidance motivation?
Avoid negative outcomes
What is the approach-avoidance model?
Approach goals (happiness) - Fulfilled/Thwarted Avoidance goals (stability) - Fulfilled/Thwarted - Precarious/Flourishing/Distressed/Boring
What are the 2 criteria that interdependence theory suggests we evaluate our interactions by?
1) What we EXPECT from our r/s, i.e. comparison level
2) How well we think we can do with OTHER PARTNERS, i.e. comparison level for alternatives
How does comparison level and satisfaction relate?
Outcomes > CL = Satisfaction
Outcomes < CL = Dissatisfaction
How does comparison level of alternatives and dependence relate?
Outcomes > CLalt = Dependence
Outcomes < CLalt = Lack of dependence
Based on the original theory of satisfaction and dependence, what are the 4 types of relationships?
Satisf./Dissatisf. = Happy/Unhappy Dependence/Independence = Stable/Unstable
1) Outcomes > CL, > CLalt = Happy+Stable
2) Outcomes > CL, < CLalt = Happy but Unstable
3) Outcomes < CL, > CLalt = Unhappy but Stable
4) Outcomes < CL, < CLalt = Unhappy +Unstable
How does CL and CLalt change with time?
Our CLs are based on our past experiences, and they fluctuate along with the outcomes we receive
Over time, our CLs will rise and those initial excellent outcomes will gradually become less satisfying bc our expectations have gone up
What is the investment model?
1) Satisfaction - Increases commitment
2) Alternatives - High quality alts. decreases commitment
3) Investment - Increases commitment
What is the equation for commitment based on the investment model?
COM = SAT - ALT + INV
What is commitment?
- Immediate intention to continue r/s
- Strong connection to a partner
- Assumed future tgt (LT orientation)
What are the 3 types of commitment?
1) Personal commitment
2) Constraint commitment
3) Moral commitment
What is personal commitment?
Occurs when ppl want to continue a r/s bc it is satisfying
What is constraint commitment?
Occurs when ppl feel they have to continue a r/s bc it would cost too much to leave
What is moral commitment?
Occurs when ppl feel they ought to continue a r/s b/c it would be morally wrong to break their vows
What are the consequences of commitment?
Engage in r/s maintenance behaviours:
1) Accommodative behaviour
2) Willingness to sacrifice
3) Perceived superiority
Less attracted to alternatives
What is the r/s maintenance behaviour: accommodative behaviour?
Temporarily tolerating provocation from one’s partner w/o fighting back
What is the r/s maintenance behaviour: willingness to sacrifice?
Putting the well-being of r/s ahead of one’s own self-interest
What is the r/s maintenance behaviour: perceived superiority?
Considering one’s r/s to be better than those of other ppl
How does commitment and r/s maintenance behaviours relate to each other?
Feedback loop: R/s maintenance behaviour increases commitment, which in turn, increases r/s maintenance behaviour…
