When relationships go wrong

Question 1

interactions with close partners involving negativity or hostility have been linked to:

Answer 1

• disrupted physiological stress responses
• elevated blood pressure
• cortisol reactivity
• poorer immune responses
• chronic pain
• slower wound healing
• obesity

Question 2

examples of couples health concordance. (2)

Answer 2

• couples mutually influence each other’s mental and physical health trajectories (Hoppmann et al, 2011)
• people typically choose a partner who is similar in terms of attitudes, demographics, and health-related behaviours: diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption (Jackson et al,2015)

Question 3

external factors that can be seen as threat to a relationship

Answer 3

eg birth of child, loss of job, extra job responsibilities

Question 4

stresses from social norms that can be seen as threat to a relationship

Answer 4

expectations that men and women enact specific roles

Question 5

suspected infidelity that can be seen as threat to a relationship

Answer 5

potential rivals may elicit feelings of jealously

Question 6

interdependance theory

Answer 6

contagion of depressive symptoms and distress (one partner’s depression feeding the other partner emotions)

Question 7

the investment model (Rusbult, 1980, 1983, 1998)

Answer 7

an extension of interdependence theory, has been used to predict and explain infidelity in dating relationships
- with relationship satisfaction, investments and the perceived quality of alternatives to the relationship predicting levels off relationship commitment

Question 8

what two ways can conflicts be handled

Answer 8

constructively or destructively

Question 9

constructive accommodations

Answer 9

a couple’s patterns of accommodation can influence their relationship satisfaction and the relationship longevity

Question 10

constructive accommodation examples of resources partners have two bring into the maintenance of their relationship (3)

Answer 10

• couples with secure attachment styles tend to experience less jealously
• couples with secure attachment styles tend to experience less jealously
• preoccupied or fearful attachments are more likely to show strong, negative emotions

Question 11

bereavement - Kubler-Ross (1969) five stages to the adjustment of dying

Answer 11

1. denial
2. anger, loss of control
   3.bargaining (an attempt to postpone the inevitable)
3. depresison
4. acceptance

Question 12

behavioural convergence

Answer 12

coupes who share a lifestyle as well as common stressors, eg common living environment, pool resources eat together, share social networks

Question 13

cortisol

Answer 13

a hormone that regulates a wide range of processes throughout the body
- elevated cortisol can interfere with learning and memory
- elevated cortisol levels are associated with lower immune function, increased weight gain, higher blood pressure, cholesterol and risk of heart disease