Relationships Flashcards
(23 cards)
What does evolution and sexual selection say about choosing a partner
Choosing a partner comes from evolution.
- This is because in the past, humans would be more attracted to women from their waists.
- Indication that they’re healthy and able to reproduce.
SEXUAL SELECTION
- Characteristics of being physically attractive and able to reproduce gives the woman a higher reproductive advantage. These genes thrive over time throughout future generation.
There’s two types of sexual selection:
intra-sexual: males compete in fights and the reward is the female. woman is passive.
inter-sexual: males compete for attention of a female, she plays an active role in choosing her mate.
What is intrasexual selection
Males compete in fights and the reward is the female. Female is passive.
What is intersexual selection
Males compete for attention of a female, she plays an active role in choosing her mate.
What is the handicap principle
Suggests that attractiveness can be bad for survival. Female peacocks find coloured tails of male peacocks attractive but they are more noticeable to predators.
However, it can show that if these genes are still thriving, it means they have superior genes.
Can be applied to humans too, high test = worsened immune system. However, it shows that these individuals can afford the handicap.
What did Buss study regarding gender differences in partner perferences?
- Cross-cultural study
- Questionnaires were used to collect data from 10000 men and women from 30+ cultural groups.
- Asked about age, gender and marital status
- Also asked about preferences in a partner
FINDINGS
- Women wanted to be safe financially and literally.
- Men wanted a youthful woman who can reproduce.
THIS IS BECAUSE
- Women have had limited access to resources to provide for themselves and their offspring so relied on men and therefore they’ve evolved through sexual selection to pick the best mate
- Men picked more fertile women as it was less common generations ago.
What is the sexual strategies theory and give strengths and limitations
The theory argued that men and women apply different strategies to choose a partner contextually. These have helped them meet different requirements of partners.
STRENGTHS
- Supported by Buss’s theory
- Supported by Singh’s findings on waist to hip ratio
LIMITATIONS
- Doesn’t factor in the social problems of the culture (some are less privileged so cannot provide for themselves whilst others can).
- Their basis of understanding comes from animals and it’s hard to generalise to humans.
What affects attraction in romantic relationships
- Physical attractiveness: (studies of: waist-hip ratio, Buss)
- Self-disclosure
What did Li and Kenrick find about the most important characteristic
Both men and women chose physical attractiveness as the most important for a relationship.
What is the filter theory regarding attraction
Suggests that there are 3 filters that operate at different stages in forming a relationship.
1) Social demographics (age, religion, proximity)
2) Similar attitudes, interests
3) Compliment each others needs.
What did Kerckhoff and Davis find in their study about long-term relationships?
- Surveyed female university students and their partners who were considering marriage
- Asked about their personalities, relationship and attitudes
- They followed up after 7 months to see if the relationship was still there.
FOUND THAT
- Couples who had been tgt for less than 18 months progressed to a permanent relationship if they had similar values
- More than 18 months couples had complementary needs.
What is the matching hypothesis study
People tend to choose partners who are as attractive as themselves.
What is Walter’s computer dance study and evaluate
- ‘Computer dance’ was advertised in a handbook given to new university students and tickets were sold to 600+ men and women.
- People selling tickets secretly rated each students for attractiveness
- Students weren’t aware they were participating in the study
- Told a computer would match them with a date for a dance with the opposite gender who had the same interests.
- However, they were paired randomly.
- They then did questionnaire about their date and were contacted months later to find out if they went on future dates with the person.
FINDINGS
- PPs who were paired with a similarly attractive partner were not significantly more liked by their date COMPARED to a different attractiveness rating.
- More attractive = more liked by the date and asked out.
EVAL
- Judging attractiveness is subjective so hard to measure
- Low ecological validity
What is the social exchange theory?
Suggests that people try to maximise rewards from a relationship and minimise costs.
For the relationship to continue, the rewards must outweigh the costs.
HOWEVER, what determines rewards and costs.
What is the equity theory and a study to back it
Suggests that people expect relationships to be fair and equal
They want to receive and give rewards.
If it’s unequal it can cause discomfort and distress in both partners.
HATFIELD
Newly married couples were assessed on their and partner’s contributions to the relationship and how happy they are.
Unequal relationships were the least happiest
Equal were happiest
What is Rusbult’s investment model
Suggests that stable relationships over time is determined by commitment from the individuals in the relationship and it depends on:
- Commitment
- Comparison to alternatives
- Investment
HOWEVER
- Can be seen as too simplistic as relationships are complex.
- Doesn’t consider cultural and gender factors.
What is Duck’s phase model
Developed a four-phase model of why a relationship ends
- One person becomes dissatisfied
- Other person is told about the dissatisfaction
- The breakup is made public to friends and family, extra support is done to amend the relationship.
- Finishing the relationship completely, both tell their own version of the break-up.
HOWEVER
- Doesn’t factor how complex it is
- Some are passive and wait to resolve and hope for the best whilst others actively try to speed the breakup or amend quickly.
- Doesn’t explain why they broke up and doesn’t take into culture.
What is the social penetration theory?
Suggests that intimacy and closeness develop in relationship through a gradual process of self-disclosure
What is Joinson’s study on self-disclosure
- Uni students were recruited to participate in a laboratory study and were paired into the same sex.
- They were asked to discuss about a dilemma topic that stimulated conversation.
- The convos were rated on levels of self-disclosure.
1ST CONDITION
- Half talked face-to-face and half discussed it on computers
2ND CONDITION
- All pairs were on computers but half of them had video on.
FOUND THAT
- 1st condition participants were more self-disclosure than the f2f PPs
- 2nd condition had lower self-disclosure when the video was on compared to no video.
SHOWS THAT
- Computer communication people disclose more.
THIS IS BECAUSE
Chatting on a computer involves ANONYMITY. It allows you to open up.
What is gating
Gating is a process that limits how much we self-disclose, it means we can’t develop intimacy and build a relationship.
examples: appearance, anxiety or social skills.
HOWEVER
Online it is easier because these factors go meaning that virtual relationship self-disclosure is higher.
What did McKenna find about relationship formation
- Surveys were sent to people
- Asked if they shared more with people online and how close they were.
- Follow-up was 2 years later to see whether they had similar feelings in the survey before.
FINDINGS
- People who shared aspects of themselves online which they didn’t say to irl people developed better relationships online than irl ones.
- High amount of PPs who were dating online were still in the relationship 2 years after.
SHOWS THAT
- Absence of gating makes relationships easier and longer lasting online than f2f.
- Because it’s easier to show your interests and self-disclose.
What did McCutcheon identify for para social relationships.
Created a Celebrity Attitude Scale (CAS) by using questionnaires questioning them on different aspect of celebrity worship.
He created 3 stages of celebrity worship known as the levels of para social relationships.
ENTERTAINMENT SOCIAL
where the relationship with the celeb is there for fun and shared with others in a group.
INTENSE PERSONAL
obsessive thoughts begin to arise in relation to the celebrity.
BORDERLINE PATHOLOGICAL
risen to fully-fledged fantasies and behaviours. stalking may begin.
How can parasocial relationships be explained by Bowlby’s attachment theory?
His theory was that babies form close attachments to their caregivers and they give a template of adult relationships later in life.
Suggests that children who didn’t form close attachments with their caregivers may develop insecure attachments as adults and therefore more likely to be attracted to celebs, this is because the relationship is one-sided and no opportunity for rejection.
How can parasocial relationships be explained by the Absorption Addiction Model?
- Suggests that people form parasocial relationships when they don’t have a strong identity and finds their life deficient and therefore follows a celebrity to supplement a source of fulfilment.
There is 2 stages of the model:
ABSORPTION
an individual becomes absorbed in a celebrities life to escape their own
ADDICTION
individual becomes more obsessed with the celebrity. can lead to extreme behaviour like stalking and is a result of bad mental health.
THIS MODEL IS SIMILAR TO THE THREE LEVELS OF PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS.
STRENGTHS
- There are studies supporting bad mental health and stalking link.
WEAKNESSES
- Suggests that everyone who is a really supportive fan has bad mental health
- Ethnocentric studies that support this.
