relationships and attraction

Question 1

what is attraction closely linked to?

Answer 1

• Proximity
• Physical attractiveness
• Similarity
• Disclosure
• Reciprocity/Exchange
• We like people who appreciate us

Question 2

what is proximity?

Answer 2

Geographic nearness is a powerful predictor of friendship.

Question 3

what is the propinquity effect?

Answer 3

greater physical proximity (closeness) to others = more contact and interaction with = greater probability of liking & friendship

Question 4

what is the mere exposure effect?

Answer 4

Repeated exposure to a stimuli increases our liking for it (in absence of salient negative features)

Question 5

what is physical attractiveness?

Answer 5

• A person’s degree of physical beauty as defined by his or her culture

Question 6

what is the halo effect in physical attractiveness?

Answer 6

• Attractive people are judged more favorably on other traits that are less attractive people

“Pretty” people are WRONGLY assumed to have better:

• Social skills
• Intellectual competence
• Greater integrity and concern for others

Question 7

what is reciprocity?

Answer 7

Return in kind; exchange

helping, respecting, and supporting each other

Question 8

what is similarity?

Answer 8

• Extent to which two people are alike in terms of age, education, attitudes, and so on.
• Similar views among individuals causes the bond of attraction to strengthen.

Question 9

why do people prefer similar others?

Answer 9

• Similar others are more rewarding.
• Interacting with similar others minimizes the possibility of cognitive dissonance
• We expect to be more successful with similar others.
• As people interact with similar others, they tend to become even more similar

Question 10

what is the social exchange theory in reciprocity?

Answer 10

Degree of satisfaction with relationship (and how much we like a partner) determined by a balance of rewards and costs

Question 11

what is the equity theory of reciprocity?

Answer 11

• We are happiest with relationships where each party contributes equally (and experiences the same ratio of rewards/costs)

Question 12

what are the basic concepts of the social exchange theory?

Answer 12

• Rewards
• Costs (e.g. drain on resources, annoying habits)
• Outcomes (cost-benefit analysis)
• Comparison level
• Comparison level for alternatives

Question 13

who suggested that long term relationships go through four stages?

Answer 13

Thibaut & Kelley (1959)

Question 14

what are the four stages Thibaut & Kelley suggested about long-term relationships?

Answer 14

Sampling = Costs & rewards are explored.
Bargaining = Negotiation of rewards and costs are agreed. 
Commitment = Exchange of rewards & acceptance of costs stabilize, there is now focus on relationship.
Institutionalisation = Norms & expectance are firmly established.

Question 15

what are the three basic themes of love?

Answer 15

• Attachment
• Caring
• Trust & Self-Disclosure

Question 16

what is love as a behaviour?

Answer 16

• Verbal expressions, e.g., “I love you.”
• Physical expression, e.g., hug & kiss
• Verbal self-disclosure
• Nonverbal display of happiness near other
• Material signs, e.g., presents, helping
• Nonmaterial signs, e.g., encouragement, interest, respect
  Making sacrifices to maintain the relationship

Question 17

what is Sternberg’s triangular theory of love?

Answer 17

• intimacy
• passion
• commitment

Question 18

what is passionate love?

Answer 18

Marked by high levels of interpersonal attraction, sexual desire, and heightened arousal.

Question 19

what is the two-factor theory of emotion?

Answer 19

1. Physical arousal plus cognitive appraisal

2. Arousal from any source can enhance one emotion depending upon what we interpret or label the arousal

Question 20

what is liking?

Answer 20

Relationship-based on intimacy but lacking passion and commitment

Question 21

what is companionate love?

Answer 21

A deep, affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined.

Question 22

what is pro-social behaviour?

Answer 22

• voluntary
• intentional helping behaviour of acts of kindness that are meant to benefit others
• has good social consequences

Question 23

why do people act pro-socially?

Answer 23

• biological value

Question 24

how is pro-social behaviour is learned?

Answer 24

• rewarding, praising and reinforcing pro-social lead to changes in behaviour
• instructing children in being helpful can lead to changes in their behaviour
• helping behaviour is the norm of our society

Question 25

what is empathy?

Answer 25

ability to identfy with and understand another persons feelings, and accounts for humans ability to take the perspective of another person

Question 26

what stops pro-social responses?

Answer 26

• personal variables = lack of empathy
• situational variables = location and preparedness
• social variables = bystander effect

Question 27

what is the bystander effect?

Answer 27

• term used to describe the fact that the presence of others reduces the likelihood of pro-social behaviour

Question 28

define altruism

Answer 28

disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others.

Question 29

define reciprocity

Answer 29

the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit, especially privileges granted by one country or organization to another

Question 30

define competence

Answer 30

the ability to do something successfully or efficiently.

Question 31

define mood

Answer 31

a temporary state of mind or feeling.

Question 32

what is audience inhibition?

Answer 32

a bystander may choose not to intervene in an emergency because they are afraid of embarrassing themselves in front of other people

Question 33

What is bystander intervention?

Answer 33

theory that states that an individual’s likelihood of helping decreases when passive bystanders are present in an emergency situatio

Question 34

what is the social exchange theory?

Answer 34

• proposes that social behavior is the result of an exchange process
• the purpose of this exchange is to maximize benefits and minimize costs.

Question 35

define interpersonal attraction

Answer 35

refers to the characteristics and processes that draw people together, either as friends or as romantic love.