factors affecting attraction in romantic relatio ships

• Self-disclosure


  When a person reveals personal information about themselves
• People tend to be more attracted to those who self-disclose more, and also self-disclose more to those they are attracted to
• Social-penetration theory


  A theory of the development of romantic relationships, where self-disclosure has two elements: breadth and depth
• As the breadth and depth of self-disclosure increase, romantic partners become more committed to each other
• At the start of a relationship, self-disclosure is limited to superficial and low-risk information, but as the relationship develops, self-disclosure becomes broader and deeper
• For a relationship to develop, there needs to be a reciprocal element to self-disclosure
• Sprecher & Hendrick (2004) found strong correlations between self-disclosure and relationship satisfaction and commitment
• The correlational nature of much research on self-disclosure means that cause and effect cannot be established
• Self-disclosure is linked to greater relationship satisfaction in both individualistic and collectivistic cultures, but the levels of self-disclosure differ
• The halo effect


  The theory that physically attractive people are consistently rated as having positive personality traits
• The matching hypothesis

  The theory that we seek out romantic partners whose level of physical attractiveness approximately matches our own
• Feingold (1988) found a significant correlation in ratings of attractiveness between romantic partners, supporting the matching hypothesis
• Taylor et al. (2011) found that online daters often sought meetings with potential partners who were more physically attractive than them, not supporting the matching hypothesis
• Sprecher & Hatfield (2009) suggested that individuals may compensate for a lack of physical attractiveness with other desirable characteristics, a process they called complex matching
• Towhey (1979) found that individuals with sexist attitudes were more influenced by physical attractiveness when judging likeability, showing that the effects of physical attractiveness can be moderated by other factors
• Filter theory of attraction


  The theory that we choose a romantic partner by using a series of filters to narrow down our 'field of availables' to a 'field of desirables'
• Filters in the filter theory of attraction

  • Social demography
  • Similarity in attitudes
  • Complementarity
• Social demography

  A range of social demographic characteristics which determine the likelihood of individuals meeting in the first place
• The outcome of the first level of filtering based on social demography is homogamy, the tendency for an individual to form a romantic relationship with someone who is socially and culturally similar to themselves
• Similarity in attitudes


  Through early disclosures, individuals determine how similar their attitudes are and consider suitable those who are similar
• Complementarity


  How well two people fit together as a couple and meet each other's needs
• Homogamy


  The tendency for an individual to form a romantic relationship with someone who is socially and culturally similar to themselves
• Similarity in attitudes


  Through early disclosures, individuals determine how similar their attitudes are
• Suitable for continuing a relationship

  An individual who is similar in terms of their attitudes
• Not suitable for continuing a relationship


  An individual who is very different in terms of their attitudes
• As a relationship develops, similarity becomes less important and is replaced by a need for complementarity
• Individuals with complementary needs


  Able to satisfy each other's respective needs
• Individuals without complementary needs


  Will not provide satisfaction of each other's needs
• One theory of the development of romantic relationships is social-penetration theory (Altman & Taylor, 1973) 
• According to this theory, self-disclosure has two elements, Breadth and Depth. As both of these increase, romantic partners become more committed to each other. They ‘penetrate’ more deeply into each other’s lives and gain a greater understanding of each other.  
• At the start of a relationship, we reveal a lot of information about ourselves

  However, what we reveal is superficial and low-risk information that we would reveal to anyone. The breadth and depth of information that we reveal at this stage is therefore limited. If we were to reveal too much too soon, this might threaten the relationship 

  However, as a relationship develops, self-disclosure becomes broader and deeper

  Eventually we are prepared to reveal high-risk information, such as painful memories and experiences, powerful feelings and secrets 
• Reis & Shaver (1988) pointed out that for a relationship to develop there needs to be a reciprocal element to self-disclosure. There should therefore be a balance of self-disclosure between both partners. If there is not, the relationship is unlikely to develop 
• who proposed the filter theory of attraction?

  Kerchoff and Davis
• what does the filter theoy of attraction suggest?

  we choose a romantic partner by using a series of filters to narrow down our ‘field of availables’ to a ‘field of desirables’ 
• what is the out come of the scoial deomgprahic filter

  homogamy
•  Dion et al. (1972) found that physically attractive people are consistently rated as kind, strong, sociable and successful 
•  We desire the most physically attractive partner possible for evolutionary reasons but we balance this against our wish to avoid being rejected by someone ‘out of our league’ and unlikely to consider us to be physically attractive