SET and The Matching Hypothesis Flashcards
Why will people become involved?
They are fairly closely matched in their ability to reward one another.
Finding someone who we subjectively believe is the most rewarding we could realistically hope to find. Matching takes place on many variables: attractiveness, intelligence, education or wealth.
Main guys?
Thibaut & Kelley 1959
Murstein 1972: Photographs
Photographs of steady or engaged couples were compared with random couples.
Real couples were consistently judged to be more similar to each other in physical attractiveness than the random pairs.
Walster et al 1966: Computer Dance Study!
752 fresher students of University of Minnesota were paired up they thought they had been randomly allocated. They were actually allocated based on physical attractiveness.
Physical attractiveness was the single best predictor of how much each date had been liked.
Desire for another date was determined by woman’s attractiveness but not the mans.
Does not support the matching hypothesis as overall attractiveness was what mattered and not equal attractiveness.
Criticisms of Walster et al
Lacks relevance for real life as partners are rarely assigned in North America.
Walster & Walster 1969
Students got to meet their partners beforehand and state what partners they wanted.
Made a critical difference as students chose someone of comparable physical attractiveness which supports the matching hypothesis.
What if a couple is mismatched?
They probably balance out in other areas. There are consequences however: les attractive may feel insecure and jealous or feel unattractive compared to their partner. This could place strain on the relationship.
Criticisms of SET by Duck?
The magnetic metaphor is reductionist and implies people are unwittingly pulled almost against their will to people of similar characteristics. Makes relationships seem unthinking.
