CH 1: Intro Flashcards
subjective well-being
how happy we are with life in general
what is the significance of relationship quality?
how good or bad people judge their relationship to be can impact subjective wellbeing
relationship transitions
people tend to take a financial hit when a relationship ends; children who are exposed to more transitions tend to show more behavior problems
selection effects
happiness is said to “select” people into certain types of relationships; initial happiness makes for better relationships and not the other way around
–> not entirely true, because of protection effects
protection effects
something about being in a committed relationship provides some measure of protection that is not otherwise available to single or cohabitating individuals
social control theory
relationships limit on how individuals behave, therefore weaker relationships increase deviant behavior
–> related to “protection effects”
pair bonds
two individuals who have some degree of emotional and practical investment in each other
–> found in all human societies; supports the universality of intimate relationships
natural selection
random changes in genes will enhance fitness
fitness
the chances that the offspring will survive and reproduce
interdependence
the mutual influence that two people have over each other
- -> defining feature of intimate relationships
- -> bidirectional, must extend over time, with later exchanges gaining meaning from earlier ones
- -> not sufficient alone
impersonal relationships
formal and task-oriented relationships
personal relationships
informal and engage us at a deeper emotional level
closeness
strong, frequent, and diverse interdependence that lasts over a considerable period of time
intimate relationship
strong, sustained, mutual influence over a broad range of interactions, with the possibility of sexual involvement
passion
magical “love at first sight” aspect of love
–> longing, tinged with obsession and an intense preoccupation with the partner, often arousing a strong desire for sexual fulfillment
intimacy
the “sharing and caring” element of love
–> warm and comfortable feelings of attachment, trust, and authentic friendship, as well as a sense of mutual caring/respect
commitment
the “through thick and thin” element of love
–> demonstrated by the decision to be in a relationship and a willingness to remain in it, involves dedication to maintaining the partnership
romantic love
high passion, high intimacy, low commitment
example: summer flings
fatuous love
high passion, high commitment, low intimacy
example: vegas weddings
companionate love
high intimacy, high commitment, low passion
example: older couples with low sex drive
consummate love
high in all components (intimacy, commitment, and passion)
–> although this is the ideal, it is very difficult to reach and sustain
what are the three components of love in intimate relationships?
passion, intimacy, and commitment
how do intensities of intimacy, passion, and commitment shift over time?
intimacy: grows rapidly, then levels off after a few years
commitment: comes slightly later in the relationship, but then grows at constant rate
passion: grows most rapidly at beginning, levels off a few months in, then steadily declines after a few years
