FACTORS AFFECTING ATTRACTION

• Self disclosure is the extent to which a person reveals intimate personal information about themselves to another person. Greater disclosure is likely to lead to greater feelings of intimacy and attraction.
• According to ALTMAN and TAYLOR, self disclosure has two elements: Breadth and Depth.
• BREADTH refers to how much information an individual shares with their partner. The more they share, the closer they are perceived as being.
• Breadth is narrow as lots of topics are off limits and too much self disclosure too early can threaten a relationship as it can appear indiscriminate.
• DEPTH refers to how far into detail individuals go when sharing information. It involves revealing secrets or private thoughts that may be embarrassing or difficult to talk about.
• DEPTH is limited as initially we only share low risk information but as the relationship develops more intimate details will be disclosed.
• REIS and SHAVER argue that self disclosure must be reciprocal for a relationship to develop. When we disclose highly personal information we hope partners will respond with their own intimate thoughts/feelings. This balance increases their intimacy and deepens the relationship.
• AO3 - SELF DISCLOUSR STRENGTH

  LAURENCEAU found that self disclosure and the perception of self disclosure in a partner were linked to high levels of intimacy in long term couples. Less intimate = less self disclosure.

  • valid theory
• AO3 - SELF DISCLOUSR STRENGTH

  HASS and STATFORD found that 57% of gay men/women in their study said that open/honest self disclosure was the main way they maintained a committed relationship

  • this awareness can help improve relationships
• PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS - BUSS argued that men place importance on attractiveness as it indicates a woman's health and fertility.
• Other signals that may be important include face symmetry where greater symmetry means greater attractiveness as it is an honest signal of genetic fitness. People are more attracted to face with Neotenous (baby face) features because thy trigger a protective/caring instinct.
• The 'Matching Hypothesis' suggest we look for partners of similar physical attractiveness to ourselves. Individuals assess their own attractiveness and make a realistic judgement about their own value to a potential partner.
• Individuals then select the best available candidates who would be most attracted to them and reciprocate their affection. The best candidate may be a compromise and be less attractive but this is to ensure a successful relationship outcome.
• AO3 - PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS STRENGTH

  FEINGOLD conducted a 17 study meta analysis and found a significant correlation in ratings of attractiveness between romantic partners

  • suggests people do tend to be attracted to those who are a close match to their attractiveness
• AO3 - PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS WEAKNESS


  TOWHEY SUGGESTS ATTRACTION MAY BE MORE COMPLEX:

  • they found that physical attractiveness was more important to people who scored high for sexist views whereas those who were less sexist were less sensitive to physical attractiveness
  • individual views influence how important physical attractiveness is to us which isn't accounted for by the matching hypothesis.
• KERCKHOFF and DAVIS proposed their are 3 factors that narrow down the range of available partners to a pool of possibilities. (field of availables to field of desirables)
• 1st LEVEL OF FILTER: SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHY

  • refers to variables that determine the likelihood of individuals meeting in the first place, such as age, location, social class.
  • partner choices become restricted and anyone who is too different is discounted as a potential partner.
• 2nd LEVEL OF FILTER: SIMILARITY OF ATTITUDES

  • psychological characteristics
  • refers to the need for partners to agree over basic values/beliefs as this makes communication easier, enabling the relationships success
  • partners with different values are filtered out
• 3rd LEVEL OF FILTER: COMPLEMENTARITY

  • this refers to how well two people fit together as a couple and met each others needs.
  • they complement each other when one has traits the other lacks and vice versa
  • opposites attract and couples have a sense that together they form a whole which adds depth to their relationship and makes it flourish
• AO3 - FILTER THEORY STRENGTH


  KERCKHOFF and DAVIS found that from studying couples at a university, those who had been together for less than 18 months, similarity of attitudes was most important in how lose they felt. Those who had been dating for more than 18 months felt complementary of needs was more important .

  • supports the changing importance of factors over time as relationships become deeper.
• AO3 - FACTORS AFFECTING WEAKNESS

  LACKS TEMPORAL VALIDITY:

  • rise in online dating - changed process of beginning a romantic relationship
  • E.G - people present themselves differently online
  • individuals are less likely to be limited when looking for a romantic relationship, new theories needed to explain this
• AO3 - FACTORS AFFECTING ATTRACTION WEAKNESS

  CORRELATIONAL DATA:

  • only establishes a link, cant say one co-variable caused the other.
  • E.G - may not be that self disclosure, similarity and physical attractiveness causes satisfaction.
  • misleading explanations
• AO3 - FACTORS AFFECTING ATTRACTION WEAKNESS

  CULTURAL BIAS:

  • most factors have been proposed by western/individualist cultures, may only explain attraction in those cultures.
  • E.G - views on SOA, PA and Self-disclosure may be less important in collectivist cultures where they focus more on the needs of other.
  • limited as not universal