Chapter 8 Flashcards
Define social support
the approval, assistance, advice, and comfort that we receive from those with whom we have developed stable positive relationships (one of the benefits we get from relationships - in exchange of the effort we put in, and the risk of being hurt in the end)
Define close relationships
relationships between people that are characterized by loving, caring, commitment, and intimacy
Define interpersonal attraction
the strength of our liking/loving for another person
Why is physical attractiveness important in relationships?
Even though we don’t want to admit it, physical attractiveness is a cue for deciding if we are willing to expand resources in pursuing a relationship with other people
Name a few features that are considered attractive
- Youthful features are considered as warmer, more attractive for both men and women
- Women also prefer masculine faces
- Overall, we prefer symmetrical faces
- Western cultures prefer thin people - but this has changed over the years
Is the thinness ideal universal?
No, predominant in Western cultures
Describe the physicala attractiveness stereotype
tendency to perceive attractive people as having positive characteristics such as sociability and competence
• Attractive people are + successful than non attractive people (better grades, better chances at interviews, lesser sentences in prison, etc)
How do self-fulfilling prophecies play a role in attractive people’s success?
people expect attractive people to be “better”, so they act kinder around them (attractive people receive a great deal of social attention)
What is the halo effect?
an individual possesses one positive characteristic makes us more likely to believe that they also possess other positive characteristics
• “What is beautiful is good” heuristic
What is the link with evolution and the choosing of a mate?
Genetic female: • Reproduction is highly costly • Finite number of eggs • Must consider carefully when and with whom to reproduce • Mate with good genes/resources
Genetic male:
• Sperm supply regenerates
• Able to impregnate multiple partners
• Young/healthy partner is the best option
Therefore males value youth and females value power/capacity (good genes)
Why is similarity important in relationships?
- Relationships in which there is a discrepancy in important beliefs (not just tastes in music) are harder to maintain (ex: different views about marriage, sex, child rearing, etc)
- Couples who have similar interests have an easier time to spend time together because they like the same activities
- Relationships with those similar to us are also reinforcing - it is nice to share liking something with someone who also likes it
What is the principle of social exchange?
we can trade attractiveness with attractiveness or social status
• This is why people of similar attractiveness or wealth are together
• Similarity is more important in individualistic cultures than in collectivistic ones
What is the matching hypothesis?
people of similar attractiveness match together
• Similarity is more important when we want a serious committed relationship
Define mere exposure and its role in attraction
tendency to prefer stimuli, (including, but not limited to, people) that we have seen frequently
Defin the proqinquity effect
the more we see and interact w people. The more likely they are to become our friends and lovers
What was the study about mere exposure and undergrads?
undergrad students chosen to live together/close during their studies: those that shared similar attitudes and that lived close together in the beginning were + likely to become friends during their degree
Describe passion
strong feelings we experience toward another person that are accompanied by increases in arousal and sexual attraction
