Relationships

• sexual selection


  evolution of characteristics grant a reproductive advantage in oppose to a survival advantage (charles darwin)
• intersexual selection


  members of one sex evolve preferences of desirable qualities for potential mates
• intrasexual selection


  members of the same sex try to outcompete eachother for members of the opposite sex

  successful individuals are able to mate and pass their genes down but unsuccessful individuals aren't able to mate so can't pass their genes down
• + evaluation of evolutionary explanation for partner preference


  penton-voak et al found that mate choice varies across the menstrual cycle so women choose a slightly more feminine face for long term relationships and more masculine face for short term relationships
• - evaluation of evolutionary explanation for partner preference


  cultural traditions affect choice in mating preference as Kasser and Sharma found women who are in a culture where economic opportunity is limited value men with more resources
• - evaluation of evolutionary explanation for partner preference


  majority of studies were done on female undergrads so were gynocentric
• - evaluation of evolutionary explanation for partner preference


  survey bias as Buss' study included a survey so social desirability bias
• physical attractiveness


  Buss suggested that men put a lot of importance on physical attractiveness when choosing a mate as physical attractiveness is an important cue to a womens health and fertility rate
• matching hypothesis


  Walster and walster came up with the hypothesis that individuals seek partners who are in the same league as them

  Individuals assess their own value and select the candidates

  Individuals make choices based on what the person desires, whether the person wants them in return and whether there are better alternatives for the person and for themselves
• matching hypothesis study


  Walster et al advertised a computer dance for new students at Minnesota University

  Randomly selected 177 males and 170 females

  4 student accomplices rated them before the dance

  Participants had to complete a questionnaire to match them with their ideal partner

  During the intermission of the dance the participants had to complete another questionnaire and another one 6 months later

  The findings didn't support the matching hypothesis

  Participants who's date was more physically attractive were more likely to arrange a second date and disregarded their personality
• - physical attractiveness AO3


  speed dating- individuals value certain characteristics when stating their intentions but their actual behaviour may be different
• - physical attractiveness AO3


  complex matching as people can attract more attractive partners through assets and resources
• + physical attractiveness AO3

  Meltzer found that men who deemed their wife as physically attractive were more satisfied in their marriage
• + physical attractiveness AO3


  people on online dating attempt to find a partner more attractive then themselves
• Filter theory


  Kerckhoff and Davis suggested that we choose romantic partners from a series of filters which narrow down the field of availables from where we choose a mate

  
  

  Social demography- more likely to be attracted to someone in the same area or age as there is more of a chance you meet someone through this and there is more in common

  
  

  Similarity in attitudes- more likely to be attracted to someone with the same beliefs and values and if this is not the same then they are filtered out and a long term relationship is not possible

  
  

  Complementarity of needs- more likely to be attracted to someone who provides your needs as mutual satisfaction allows this eg caring and to be cared for
• Kerckhoff and Davis


  longitudinal study of 94 couples in Duke University

  Each couple completed 2 questionnaires one on complementarity of needs and the other on attitudes and values

  7 months later they were asked how close they felt to their partner in comparison to the start of the study

  Less than 18 months attitudes and values was most significant to how close they felt to eachother

  More than 18 months complementarity of needs was most significant to how close they felt to eachother
• + filter theory


  Duck suggested the filter theory is important as it allows people to not invest in long term relationships
• - filter theory


  Lack of research support as Leringer et al could not replicate the results
• - filter theory


  low temporal validity as researchers found that attitudes towards relationships changed over time in 2001 in young Americans
• + filter theory


  longitudinal study
• social exchange theory


  theory that in a relationship individuals gain rewards eg sex and sacrifice costs eg money spent

  if both partners feel like they are in profit and see they gain more than they spend then the relationship is healthy but vice versa
• comparison levels


  partners weigh up their cost and rewards to determine their satisfaction

  comparison level- amount of costs and rewards they get in a relationship

  comparison level of alternative relationships- compares current profit in relationship to potential profit in alternative relationship
• Kurdek and Schmitt


  aimed to investigate the importance of social exchange theory in relationship quality

  investigated 185 couples and made each partner complete a questionnaire without the partner knowing the answer of it

  Greater relationship satisfaction was related to many benefits of the relationship and seeing potential alternatives as less attractive
• equity theory


  relationships don't rely on equality to continue but rely on how much fairness is perceived by both partners

  people are most comfortable when they feel they are getting what they deserve in a relationship

  over benefitted leads to guilt and shame

  under benefitted leads to resentment and anger
• Schaffer and Keith


  Aimed to investigate if equity is linked to relationship satisfaction

  Married couples were surveyed to see who was inequitable

  During child rearing years wives felt under benefitted and husbands felt over benefitted so satisfaction was low

  During honeymoon and empty nest stages both perceived equity and satisfaction within the marriage

  Shows that equity is linked to relationship satisfaction
• equity theory -


  women were showed to feel more underbenefitted then men
• equity theory -


  Spreecher et al found women feel more guilty when overbenefitted then men
• equity theory-


  culture differences as Jaimaica was the least equitable country
• equity theory+


  Waalt et al conducted an experiment on monkeys and found they became unhappy when denied a reward and if another monkey was undeservedly given a reward they through feces at the experimenter
• Relationship break down


  reasons for breakdown:

  pre existing doom- end of a relationship is predictable from the start

  mechanical failure- when a couple can't carry on in a relationship any longer as it doesn't work anymore

  sudden death- unpredictable event causes relationship to end eg cheating
• ducks model

  intrapsychic phase- dissatisfied person considers whether they may be better off without the relationship and may socially withdraw

  
  

  dyadic phase- individual confronts partner and discusses dissatisfaction

  discussion about cost and investments if relationship was to end but relationship can be saved if problems are solved

  
  

  social phase- individual expresses dissatisfaction to family and friends and makes it harder for couple to deny they have problems and friends and family take sides and potentially speed up decisions

  
  

  grave dressing phase- individuals try to justify their actions and try to leave with social credit so it doesn't affect future relationships
• - relationship breakdown


  doesn't acknowledge personal growth but he made a revised model which included a resurrection process where people focus on personal growth and saving the relationship
• - relationship breakdown


  social phase is dependant on type of relationship as young relationship has less of a reason to find a resolution whereas older relationship does due to investments such as children
• + relationship breakdown


  ducks model has practical application as
• + relationship breakdown


  grave dressing helps individuals to feel better about the end of a relationship as an individual can focus on the situation instead of their own flaws
• self disclosure


  extent to which someone reveals information about themselves to strengthen a relationship

  more disclosure= more intimacy

  people disclose more intimate info to those they like and receive more from people that like them

  feel closer and more attracted to people because we disclose information to them
• factors that affect the influence of self disclosure


  gender- females put more importance of disclosure to a potential partner and from one

  attributions- we feel more attracted to someone if they want to only disclose information to us

  content- what is disclosed could influence attraction from another person

  appropriateness- some disclosure is seen as more or less appropriate
• Sprecher et al


  aimed to see whether one sided or reciprocal disclosure is more influential in determining attraction

  156 US undergrads were used with 2/3rds female female and 1/3rd male female

  they were asked to disclose info over skype in a task with the first condition being reciprocal and the second non-reciprocal

  Individuals were then assessed on closeness, perceived similarity and enjoyment of interaction

  Individuals in the reciprocal task enjoyed the conversation more and felt more perceived similarity so shows reciprocal disclosure is more attractive
• self disclosure -


  online relationships involve higher levels of self disclosure so this study cannot be generalised
• self disclosure-


  cultural differences in level of disclosure