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Relationships Flashcards

1
Q

What is sexual selection

A

-Evolutionary explanation for partner preference
-Attriubutea and behaviours increasing survivability and reproductive success passed on

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2
Q

What is the basis of human reproductive behaviour

A

-Any behaciours which relate to opportunities to reproduce and increase survival chances of genes such as partner preference
-Anisogamy

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3
Q

What is anisogamy

A

-Seperare mating strategies between sex
-Male gametes (sperm) produced continually and do not require much energy
-females gametes (eggs) are large lum it ed and require significant investment
-gives rise to two types of sexual selection

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4
Q

Name the two types of sexual selection

A

-Intra sexual selection
-Inter sexual selection

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5
Q

What is inter sexual selection

A

-Female strategy of choosing quality
-Trivers pointed out female invests far more into a baby so more choosy as real life consequences for a wrong partner
-Want children to inherit genetic fitness

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6
Q

What is intra sexual selection

A

-Male strategy
-Seeks quantity due to low level of commitment
-Seek signs of fertility and youthfulness

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7
Q

Evaluate the evolutionary explanations for partner preference

A

-Research support as Clark and Hattield found 75% of males at a university campus agreed to a sexual request from opposite sex student as opposed to 0% of females COUNTERPOINT: both men and women seek similar mating strategies when looking for long term relationships (Buss and Schmidt)
-Cannot explain partner preference for homosexual men and women as they are not assessing genetic fitness
-Ignores the role of changing cultural and social norms due to contraception, women in the workplace meaning evolutionary explanation is limited

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8
Q

What is self disclosure

A

-Revealing personal information about yourself
-Romantic partners reveal more as relationship progresses
-These self disclosures which are deep thoughts and feelings strengthen a romantic bond when used appropriately

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9
Q

What is social penetration theory

A

-Altman and Taylor gradually penetrating more deeply into each other’s lives
-A sign of growing trust though revealing sensitive information

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10
Q

What are the 3 aspects of social penetration theory

A

-Bredth
-Depth
-Reciprocity

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11
Q

What is breadth and depth in SLT

A

-Acts as layers of an onion first revealing lots of superficial info (breadth)
-More depth through sensitive information as relationship progresses
-Revealing to much early can threaten the relationship

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12
Q

What is reciprocity in self disclosure

A

-Self disclosure must be returned with similar levels of breadth and depth
-Increases feelings of intimacy and deepens the relationship

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13
Q

Evaluate self disclosure

A

-Real world application: 57% homosexual men and women said they use self disclosure as a maintenance strategy meaning this skill can be applied to less skilled partners (Haas and Stafford)
-Less self disclosure in collectivist cultures such as china but there was no lower levels of satisfaction limiting the generisability
-Research support: positive correlation between satisfaction and self disclosure (sprecher and Hendrick) COUNTERPOINT: correlation research does not show self disclosure causes satisfaction as no cause and effect can be established

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14
Q

Why is physical attractiveness important

A

-Is an honest sign of of genetic fitness
-Those with a symmetrical face found to be most attractive as it is an honest signal of genetic fitness
-There is a general agreement across cultures about what is considered attractive
-Assumes we seek relationships with most attractive people

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15
Q

What is the halo effect

A

-We have positive stereotypes for physically attractive people assuming they possess other positive characters
-Negative steryotypes formed on non attractive people

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16
Q

What is the matching hypothesis

A

Choosing someone with a similar level of attractiveness instead of the most artractive taking into account our own level of attractiveness

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17
Q

What is a research on the matching hypothesis

A

-Walster and Walster
-Male and female students invited for a dance and rated for physical attractiveness by objective observers at the start also completing a questionnaire about themselves on how they viewed themself
-Hypothesis supported with those taking into account their own level of physical attractiveness

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18
Q

Evaluate the role of physical attractiveness

A

-Research support: attractive people rated as more politically competent (Palmer and Peterson) creating real world implications for the political process as there are dangers for democracy
-Evolutonary explanation: some features such as small nose and large eyes considered attractive by white hispanic and asian men (Cunningham)
-Taylor suggests online dating choices tend to be for most physically attractive people COUNTERPOINT: does not reflect the real world

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19
Q

What is filter theory

A

-Explanation of relationship formation
-States a series of factors progressively getting worse rices range of available romantic partners to a smaller pool

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20
Q

Name the 3 filters of the filter theory in order

A

-Social demography
-Similarity in attitudes
-Complementarity

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21
Q

What is social demography

A

Demographic factors e.g proximity social class education reducing field of available romantic options

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22
Q

What is similarity in attitudes in the filter theory

A

-Finding partners sharing similar values attractive
-Discount those with differing attitudes

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23
Q

What is Complementarity

A

-Partner has a contributing trait the other lacks
-Becomes more important later on in the relationship

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24
Q

Evaluate the filter theory of romantic relationships

A

-Markey and Markey found long term lesbian couples most satisfied when partner was equally dominant
-Research support: longitudional study found similarity linked with closeness in early stages whilst complementarity predicted closeness after 18 months
-Social change: 1st filter less relevant due to rating apps and social media

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25
Who proposed social exchange theory
Thibault and Kelley 1959
26
What is social exchange theory
romantic relationships act in subjective rewards and costs with people wanting to maximise rewards and minimise costs in addition to opportunity costs
27
what is the role of rewards costs and profits in SET
People want a net profit and try to maximise rewards and minimise costs including opportunity costs (mini max)
28
What is comparison level in SET
Amount or reward you think you deserve from a relationship compared to the costa based on past experiences and social norms
29
What is comparison level for alternatives in SET
We consider whether we could get more rewards and fewer costs elsewhere
30
Name the stages of relationship development
-Sampling -Bargaining -Commitment -Institutionalisation
31
What is sampling as a stage of relationship development
Exploring rewards and costs
32
What is bargaining as a stage of relationship development
Negotiating the exchange of rewards and costs
33
What is commitment as a stage of relationship development
Relationship gets more stable as rewards increase and costs lessen
34
What is institutionalisation as a stage of relationship development
Norms are firmly established
35
Evaluate social exchange theory
-Research support: Kurdek completed a questionnaire on gay and heterosexual couples finding that those most commits also have fewer costs and most rewards with alternatives unattractive COUNTERPOINT: ignores the role of equity and limited as a questionnaire -Vague concepts: rewards costs and comparison levels are subjective from person to person so hard to operationalise for testing -Contrary to SET dissatisfactions come before CLalt not after -Useful for explaining why abused partners stay in relationships
36
What is equity theory
-Equity is perceived fairness rather then equal profits -Both levels of profits have to be roughly similar -Equity more important than equality -Inequity leads to dissatisfaction later on in the relationship
37
Evaluate equity theory
-Cultural limitations: Partners in collectivist societies (Jamaica) more satisfied when overbenefitting -Research support: Newly weds report equity is more satisfying than underbenefitting or overbenefitting COUNTERPOINT: study found that equity did not increase over time as the theory predicted and found that self disclosure was significantly more important than equity undermining the validity of the theory -Individual differences: Benevolents and entitled both unconcerned with equity with benevolens feeling fine with underbenefitting whilst entitleds were fine with overbenefitting showing that a desire for equity varies
38
What is commitment as a stage of relationship development
A romantic partners intention or desire to continue a relationship reflecting a belief that the relationship has a viable long term future
39
What is satisfaction
The extent to which romantic partners feel the rewards of a relationship exceed the costs
40
What is investment
The resources associated with a romantic relationship which a romantic relationship which partners would lose if their relationship were to end
41
Who made the investment model
Rusbult
42
Name rusbults stages of investment
-Satisfaction -Comparison with alternatives -Investment
43
What is satisfaction in rusbult's model
-Comparing rewards and costs -Each partner satisfied if getting more out of relationship than percieved social norms
44
What is comparison with alternatives in rusbult's model
A relationship with another partner would bring more rewards or costs
45
What is investment in rusbult's model
-If resources put into the relationship would be lost -Intrinsic: resources put into a relationship -Extrinsic: Resources gained out of a relationship
46
What is satisfaction versus commitment in Rusbult's investment model
-Commitment more important than satisfaction in maintaining relationships -Desire to avoid wasting investment
47
What are relationship maintenance mechanisms in rusbult's investment model
-Committed partners act to promote their relationship through accommodation, willingness to sacrifice forgiveness etc.
48
Evaluate Rusbult's investment model
-Explains abusive relationships where investment and commitment more important than satisfaction: abused partner stays (Rusbult & Martz) -Oversimplifies investment: not just current resources but also future plans count -Perception versus reality: research based off self reports that are influenced to bias and subjectivity through demand characteristics
49
Name the stages of relationship breakdown in Duck's phase model
-Intra Pyschic -Dyadic -Social Phase -Grave Dressing
50
What is the intrapsychic phase in relationship break down
-Dissatisfied partner considers the issues privately weighing up pros and cons -May share with close friends
51
What is the Dyadic phase in relationship break down
-Both partners talk about relationship resulting in arguments, negotiations and more self disclosure -If differences not resolved move to next phase
52
What is the Social phase in relationship break down
Partners involve social networks to maybe save relationship and seek support
53
What is the grave dressing phase in relationship break down
Ex partners tidy up loose ends by constructing a favourable private and public story
54
Evaluate Duck's phase model
-Real world application: provides strategies to reverse breakdown and useful for counselling COUNTERPOINT: collectivist cultures have obligatory relationships related to family insights so not applicable -Incomplete model: 5th Resurrection phase added and partners may return to earlier phases -Early phases less understood: retrospective recall so lacks accuracy
55
Namethe two theories on self disclosure in virtual relationships
-Reduced cues theory -Hyperpersonal model
56
What is reduced cues theory
-According to Sproull and Kiesler virtual relationships lack face to face cues so there is less self disclosure -Causes de individuation causing the person to be aggressive and blunt
57
What is the hyperpersonal model
-Walther -Sender has selective self presentation (hyperhonest and hyperdishonest) -Anonymity increases self disclosure
58
Evaluate the reduced cues theoryz
-Lack of support: Walther and Tidwell still involve visual cues such as emojis and timing of messages so emotional states can be expressed
59
Evaluate the hyperpersonal model
-Lack of support: Ruppel carrying out a meta analysis of 25 studies found that there was greater self disclosure in Face to face than virtual relationships COUNTERPOINT: conversations in virtual relations more probing than face to face but also hyperdishonest
60
What is absence of gating in virtual relationships
-Face to face relationships often fail to form because of obstacles (gates) e.g face disfigurements -These barriers and gates are not present in the virtual world allowing or relationships to form -Allows person to be a truer self but also to deceive
61
Evaluate absence of gating
-71% of relationships formed online by shy people still going after 2 years compared to 49% formed offline -Ignores the role of multimedia relationships (online and offline)
62
Name the levels of parasocial relationships
-Entertainment social -Intense personal -Borderline pathological
63
What is entertainment social as a level of parasocial relationships
A form a gossip, source of entertainment and fuel for conversation
64
What is intense personal as a level of parasocial relationships
-Obsessive thoughts -Intense feelings -Greater involvement in the celebrity
65
What is borderline pathological as a level of parasocial relationships
-Uncontrollable fantasies -Extreme behaviours -Can be dangerous such as an illegal act
66
Evaluate the levels of parasocial relationships
Research support: link between parasocial intensity and anxiety in intimate relationships -Problems with attachment theory as researchers found measuring 299 participants that participants with insecure attachments were no more likely to form parasocial relationships with celebrities than participants with secure attachments
67
Who made the absorption addiction model
McCutcheon
68
What is the absorption addiction model
-Escape from reality triggered by stress -Through absorption seeks fulfillment in celebrities life and becomes addicted to celebrities life -Needs to increase their dose to gain satisfaction
69
Evaluate the absorption addiction model
Research support: correlations between levels of celebrity worship and poor psychological functioning (body image)
70
What is the attachment theory explanation of parasocial relationships
-Insecure resistant individuals have unfulfilled emotional needs -Parasocial relationships avoid the threat of rejection
71
Evaluate the attachment theory explanation of parasocial relationships
-Universal tendency: insecure attachment linked to parasocial relationships across cultures COUNTERPOINT: No link between attachment security and forming parasocial relationships (McCutcheon et al)

psychology (12 decks)

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