Relationship Concepts Flashcards
(6 cards)
Biological Approach
Evolution
- Inter-sexual attraction = differences between males and females and how they manifest as attractive qualities in a mate.
- Due to evolution, men and women may have different goals when looking for a mate
- Men are fertile for longer, so they look for a partner who has high reproductive value (physical attractiveness)
- Women are not, so they look for partners who will invest in offspring
- Wedekind (1995)
- Buss (1989)
Cognitive Approach
Similarity attraction Model
Argues that people are attracted to others who are similar, rather than dissimilar to themselves
Markey & Markey (2007)
Halo Effect
Tendency for an impression created in one area to influence opinion on another area. Relies on system 1 thinking
Dion et al (1972)
Sociocultural Approach
Social psychologists argue that our environment and culture play a key role in how we form relationships.
- Mere exposure effect
- It is a psychological phenomenon by which people tend to develop a preference for things they are familiar with
- More frequently exposed the more we like it
Zajonc (1968)
- Culture
- Affects who we find attractive and how relationships are formed
- Cultural psychologists argue that passionate love is largely a Western phenomenon.
Buss (1989)
Form Relationships
Any of the 3 approaches
End Relationships
- Attribution styles
- Happy couples engage in relationship-enhancing patterns during disagreements
- don’t blame their partner or assume they did it on purpose
- Unhappy couples engage in distress maintaining
- Blame their partner or don’t give them credit
Bradbury and Fincham (1992)
- 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse
- Criticism: Attack your partner’s character to prove you right
- Contempt: Attack your partner’s character to prove they are inferior
- Defensiveness: Viewing yourself as the victim
- Stonewalling: Withdraw from the conflict
Gottman (1994)
Communication
- Attribution styles
- Happy couples engage in relationship-enhancing patterns during disagreements
- don’t blame their partner or assume they did it on purpose
- Unhappy couples engage in distress maintaining
- Blame their partner or don’t give them credit
Bradbury and Fincham (1992)
- 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse
- Criticism: Attack your partner’s character to prove you right
- Contempt: Attack your partner’s character to prove they are inferior
- Defensiveness: Viewing yourself as the victim
- Stonewalling: Withdraw from the conflict
Gottman (1994)
