Factors Affecting Attraction

• Self-Disclosure:

  :) RTS Sprecher and Hendrick

  > studied heterosexual couples - found a strong correlation between several measures of satisfaction and self-disclosure

  > those who used self-disclosure, and believed their partners did likewise (reciprocation) were more satisfied and committed to their romantic relationships

  > increases validity of reciprocated self-disclosure
• Self-Disclosure:

  :( correlational research

  > cause and effect cannot be established between self-disclosure and levels of attraction - it may be that the more satisfied the partners are, the more they disclose

  > could be another intervening factor e.g. amount of time spent together or similarity in attitudes

  > limits internal validity of self-disclosure
• Self-Disclosure:

  :( cultural relativism

  > the theory that self-disclosure increases attraction is more relevant to Western relationships - difficult to generalise the findings to non-Western cultures

  > Tang found that people in the USA self-disclose significantly more sexual thoughts than people in China, but level of satisfaction were no different between the two countries

  > lowers external validity of self-disclosure
• Physical Attractiveness - Evolutionary Processes:

  :) RTS Cunningham

  > found many similarities across cultures when studying physical attractiveness - large eyes, small noses and high eyebrows were rated attractive by Hispanic and Asian males as the features display genetic fitness

  > possible to generalise the findings across cultures - increases external validity
• Physical Attractiveness - Matching Hypothesis

  :( RTC Taylor

  > studied the activity logs of a dating site - measured actual date choices, not just preferences

  > people sought meetings with partners who were more physically attractive than them

  > lowers the validity of matching hypothesis

  discussion - this does not mean they were successful in becoming a romantic relationship
• Physical Attractiveness:

  :( correlational research

  > cause and effect cannot be established between physical attractiveness and levels of attraction

  > could be another intervening factor such as amount of time spent together, self-disclosure or similarity in attitudes

  > lowers internal validity
• Filter Theory:

  :) RTS Kerchkoff and Davis

  > longitudinal study in which both partners completed questionnaires to assess similarity in attitudes and complementarity - relationship closeness measured 7 months later

  > closeness was associated with similarity of values, but only for those who had been together for less than 18 months - in longer relationships, complementarity was more important

  > supports filter theory
• Filter Theory:

  :( lacks temporal validity

  > theory was created in 1962 - since then there has been a rise in online dating, which has changed the process of beginning a romantic relationship

  > could be argued that it has reduced the importance of some social demographic variables, such as geographical location

  > may not be appropriate in modern society

  discussion - can filter people through online dating