Key Terms

• Attraction

  qualities about a person that we are drawn to and look for in a partner
• physical attractiveness

  How appealing we find a persons face and body shape
• neotonous 


  faces with baby-like features such as big eyes & small nose
• halo effect

  if someone is physically attractive, we assume the have other good qualities
• matching hypothesis

  We choose a partner with the same physical attractiveness as us
• self disclosure

  revealing information about ourselves
• social penetration theory

  we build trust as we reveal deeper information
• reciprocity

  balance of self disclosure between partners
• filter theory

  we use filters to narrow down potential partners from the field of availables to the field of desirables
• social demography

  we look for people who are similar to us eg age, education, social class
• similarity of attitudes

  we are more attracted to people who share the same beliefs and values as us
• complementarity

  how well two people fit together & meet each others needs
• social exchange theory

  we try to maximise rewards and minimise costs in a relationship
• comparison level

  idea of how much reward we deserve to receive - based on previous relationships
• comparison level with alternatives

  perception of whether other relationships, or being single, would be more rewarding
• sampling stage

  exploring potential rewards and costs
• bargaining stage

  partners exchange rewards and costs
• commitment stage

  partners are familiar with expectations
• institutionalisation stage

  rewards and costs are clearly established
• equity theory

  We are happiest in relationships when we get out what we put in
• overbenefitting

  receiving more rewards than your partner
• underbenefitting

  receiving fewer benefits than your partner
• investment theory

  explains why couples stay together even if rewards and costs are unbalanced
• commitment

  desire to remain in a relationship
• satisfaction level

  comparing rewards and costs
• comparison with alternatives

  looking at whether other relationships or being single will lead to greater satisfaction
• investment size

  number of resources we will lose if we leave a relationship
• intrinsic investments

  things we put directly into a relationship
• extrinsic investments

  things that are brought into our lives through a relationship
• intrapsychic phase

  person admits to themselves that they are unhappy with the relationship
• dyadic phase

  the person confronts their partner and voices their dissatisfaction
• social stage

  friends and family get involved and may take sides, making reconciliation more problematic
• grave-dressing phase

  Both sides construct their version of why the relationshis broke down
• resurrection phase

  moving beyond the pain and distress associated with the relationship breakdown, and experience personal growth
• deindividuation

  loss of personal identity
• virtual relationships

  A relationship that takes place online
• computer mediated communication

  talking to someone via technology
• face to face communication

  Talking to someone in real life
• hyperpersonal model

  we are more likely to self disclose online
• reduced cues

  we are less likely to self disclose online