Ch. 10 - Attraction Flashcards
Evolutionary basis for human tendency to seek relationships (3)
Help individuals and offspring survive, increase likelihood of passing down one’s genes
Parent offspring attachments help ensure offspring survive until they can be independent
Friendships allow non-kin to cooperate (avoid competition and aggression)
Universal dynamics of relationships (4)
Caregiving between mother and child
Wrestling between siblings
Affection between romantic partners
Dominance displays between adolescent males
Communal v.s. exchange relationships
Basic principle of relationships
Communal = individuals feels responsibility for one another and give/receive according to principle of need
- usually long term and based on common identity
Exchange = individuals feel little responsibility to one another and give/receive according to equity and reciprocity
- usually short term
People like and gravitate toward those who provide them with rewards
Social exchange theory
How we evaluate rewards and costs of relationships
Humans want to maximize their own satisfactions so they seek out rewards in their interactions and are willing to pay certain costs to achieve this
- comparison level (expectations about relationship v.s. reality of relationship)
- comparison level for alternatives
Equity theory
People are motivated to pursue fairness in relationships, benefits should be proportionate to the effort either person in the relationship puts in
Rules of attraction - proximity (study example)
- propinquity
- functional distance
Propinquity = actual physical distance, relates to mere exposure effect
- leads to liking because familiar stimuli are easier to perceive and are associated with non-negative things
- e.g. rats raised on Mozart or Schoenberg music
Functional distance = how easy it is for people to come into contact, more influential than propinquity
Rules of attraction - similarity
- attitude similarity effect
- Matching hypothesis
- study example
- complementarity
- status exchange hypothesis
Attitude similarity effect = we like people with similar attitudes because it validates our world views and boosts our self esteem
People may compensate for dissimilarity in one dimension by seeking out greater similarity on other dimensions
Bogus stranger paradigm
Matching hypothesis = people of approximately equal levels of physical attractiveness and values tend to seek each other as mates
Complementarity = tendency for people to seek out others with characteristics that are different but complementary to their own
Status exchange hypothesis = romantic attraction increases when 2 people complement each other in terms of their social status by offering each other elevated status where they themselves are lacking
Rules of attraction - reciprocity
Based on norm of reciprocity, but doesn’t work if you like everyone
Rules of attraction - physical attractiveness
- halo effect
- what both sexes like, what men like, what women like
- reproductive fitness
We find people we like/people who are more friendly to be more attractive
Halo effect = perception that people who are physically attractive also possess other positive traits
- can work in reverse
- can be increased by self fulfilling prophecies
Both sexes: nice smile/eyes/hair, facial symmetry
Men like large eyes, prominent cheekbones, full lips, narrow cheeks, small chin, youth
Women like prominent cheekbones and jawline, large chin
People are more drawn to average faces
Men are more indiscriminate of mates because they biologically invest less time in their offspring
Criticism of evolutionary approach to mate preferences (2)
Evidence for evolutionary approach to mate preferences (3)
Attractive women marrying wealthy, high status men could be because those women enjoy elevated status themselves (choose mates based on similarity rather than ability to support family/offspring)
Historical division of labour has disproportionately allowed men to control resources, so the economically vulnerable women choose mates with status/resources because of concern about resource scarcity (not because of ability to support family/offspring)
Women closer to ovulating judged aroma of men with more symmetric faces to be more pleasant
When ovulating, women’s face preferences shift from slightly feminized male faces to more masculine faces
Men who smelled clothing of women closer to ovulation had higher testosterone levels
Long v.s. short term mating strategies
Looks are important in short term partners, other traits are more important in long term partners
Stated preferences often differ from actual preferences
Online dating
- comparison to conventional dating (4)
- disadvantages (5)
Access
Communication
Matching
Asynchrony
Time consuming
Dishonest claims
Reduces people to 2D displays of information
Matching algorithms aren’t scientifically verifiable
Too many possibilities lead to unrealistic expectations
Sternberg’s triangular theory of love - passion
Intense physical and sexual attraction, intense longing to be with them, negative state of arousal if you can’t be with that person
Sternberg’s triangular theory of love - intimacy
- cycle of intimacy
Feelings of warmth/validation/shared meaning/understanding
Cycle of intimacy: disclosure of personal information, supportive response, feelings of being understood
Sternberg’s triangular theory of love - commitment
Decision to love someone, long term dedication to maintain that love
Investment model of commitment: whether or not people stay in a relationship depends on rewards received (tend to based more on expected future rewards), investments and barriers to leaving, and availability of alternatives
