relationships

• what is sexual selection?


  concept of successful reproduction through physical characteristics and behaviour
• what is anisogamy?


  Sexual reproduction involving the fusion of two gametes of different sizes.
• what is inter-sexual selection?


  Mate choice based on traits that indicate the quality of an individual for reproduction.
• what is intra-sexual selection?


  males have large quantity of sperm

  competition to distribute them and pass them onto next generation
• what is dimorphism?


  two distinct forms of a species
• what is self-disclosure?


  info shared about ourselves when we meet other
• what is breadth and depth?


  as these increase, romantic partners become more committed

  self-disclosure also deepens
• what is depenetration?


  dissatisfied partners self-disclose less as they gradually disengage from the relationship
• what is mating strategy?

  approach to secure a mate
• what is dimorphic?


  explanation which explains how members of a species evolve their own specific characteristics through adaptation and selection
• strategies for male reproductive behaviour?

  • signs of fertility
  • fighting
  • mate-guarding
• strategies for female reproductive behaviour?

  • signs of resources
  • courtship
• what are two strengths of evolutionary explanations?

  • evidence support of human reproductive behaviour

  (Clark and Hatfield)

  • evidence support of partner preferences

  (Buss)

  (Singh)
• what did Singh find?

  men are attracted to women with waist-to-hip ratios that indicate fertility
• Clark and Hatfield?


  • approach students on campus and ask questions
  • 'Would u go to bed with me?'
  • majority of men said yes when women asked
  • zero women said yes when men asked
• Buss


  • surveyed 10,000+ adults from all over the world
  • found males valued signs of fertility
  • females valued signs of resources
• what are 2 weaknesses for evolutionary explanations?

  • cannot explain all types of relationship
  • difficult to explain other relationships, like homosexual couples or those who don't choose to have children
  • ignores social/cultural factors

  Bovet and Raymond

  found that ideal waist-to-hip ration of women changed significantly over the centuries
• self-disclosure


  information that we share about ourselves with other we meet
• Altman and Taylor


  social penetration theory
• what is the social penetration theory?

  • gradual and reciprocal exchange of info through self-disclosure
  • allows individuals to share increasingly more personal and intimate knowledge
• what is a strength and counterpoint of self-disclosure?

  • several predictions about self-disclosure derived from social penetration theory have been supported by research

  (Sprecher & Hendrick)

  studied hetersosexual couples = strong correlation between satisfaction and self-disclosure for both partners

  • correlational research

  does not cause satisfaction directly, which reduces validity of social penetration theory of self-disclosure
• what is a strength of self-disclosure?

  • real-world appplication

  can help ppl who want to improve communication in their relationships

  (Haas & Stafford)

  57% homosexual men & women = open & honest deepened relationships
• what is a limitation of self-disclosure?

  • cultural differences

  (Tang)

  individualist cultures disclose more sexual thoughts & feelings than collectivist culture

  levels of satisfaction were no different than those in US

  = not necessarily generalisable
• what are the explanations for physical attractiveness?

  • matching effect
  • Halo Effect
  • sexual selection
• explain sexual selection


  • physical features like symmetrical face, 'baby' face are more attractive = caring & protective instinct
  • (Shakelford & Larsen)
• Shakelford & Larsen


  • ppl w symmetrical faces are rated as more attractive than those with asymmetric faces
  • evolutionary exp) requires genetic precision
• the Halo Effect


  • describes a mental mechanism which draws ppl to generalise attractive ppl also possess other +ve characteristics

  = assumed to be as desirable as attractive features
• AO1 Halo effect


  • (Dion)

  found physically attractive ppl are consistently rated as kind, strong and sociable

  behave positively to them

  = diproportionate influence on judgement
• Matching hypothesis


  (Walster & Walster)

  A - 'computer dance' test

  look for partners who are similar to ourselves in terms of physical attractiveness

  P - students were invited to a dance

  rated for physical attractiveness by objective observers and completed questionnaire about themselves

  told that data would be used by computer to decide partners for evening

  R - hypothesis not supported

  most liked partners = most physically attractiveness

  C - (Berscheid) repicated with hypothesis supported

  = settle for those who are in our league
• what are 2 strengths of physical attractiveness?

  • research support

  (Palmer & Peterson)

  physically attractive = more competent

  • supports evolutionary explanation

  (Cunningham)

  found features of women was fairly consistent
• what is a limitation of physical attrractiveness?

  • challenges matching hypothesis

  (Taylor)

  studied activity logs of online dating site

  real-world test of actual date choices

  found that they wanted to meet those who are more physically attractive

  = less validity of matching hypothesis
• filter theory?


  = explains how relationships form and develop

  • several levels
• what factors affect desirability?

  1) social demography - potential partners considered on basis of proximity, educatio, class and religion

  = highly influential, as those close to use = accessible

  2) similarity in attitudes

  partner choice related to values and beliefs / cultural characteristics

  similarity promotes attraction (law of attraction)

  3) complementarity

  important at later stages in relationship

  opposites attract by providing factor what the other lacks