Soc Of Intimate Relationships Exam #2

Front 1

How does proximity affect attraction?

Back 1

Proximity predicts the probability of interaction, and increased interaction can lead to increased attraction.

If you never run into/meet the person how can you be attracted to them?

Front 2

Why could you say that the effect of proximity on attraction is “spurious”?

Back 2

If social similarity predicts attraction and creates proximity, we may be attracted to those who are near us because they are similar to us

When we bring people together and they have negative reaction (increases dislike)

Front 3

In what way is proximity a “conditional” factor in attraction?

Back 3

Proximity is a precondition for attraction because we first need to be exposed to be attracted.

Front 4

To what extent is the saying “absence makes the heart grow fonder” accurate?

Back 4

Not so much. Long distance relationships usually don't work.

Front 5

How do social reactions affect attraction?

Back 5

Others encourage us to get together with similar others. The opinions of our friends and family are important predictors of attraction.

Front 6

What does reactance theory say about the effects of outside interference in our relationships?

Back 6

When you are denied a desired state, it becomes more desired.

Front 7

What is the Romeo and Juliet effect? Under what conditions does this effect occur?

Back 7

Relationships that we really want to have happen that outside others try to block, only make us want those relationships more.

This is likely to occur when the relationship has already been established, not when the relationship is just being formed.

Front 8

What does the evidence say about the impact of obstacles to relationships on attraction?

Back 8

The evidence is not clear. We see that it matters and we take others' opinions but also we see reactance theory occurs. It seems to be situational rather than universal.

Front 9

What can we conclude from the bar “closing time” studies?

Back 9

Women get more attractive closer to closing time. This probably suggests that when our opportunities for choosing a mate/being alone are ending we feel pressured to find someone, anyone!

But this is not quite the same as reactance theory.

Front 10

What does the evidence say about playing hard-to-get to enhance the others attraction to oneself?

Back 10

No, but selectivity makes partners more attractive.

Front 11

What is cognitive consistency and how does it affect our behaviors?

Back 11

Opposite of cognitive dissonance. We like our actions/behavior/relationships to correspond with the emotions/thoughts/other relationships that we have.

Front 12

What is balance theory say about how our existing relationships affect our attraction to another? Can you identify relationship triangles that are in balance vs. out of balance?

Back 12

We like others who like us and we like others who are liked by those we like.

4 types of triangles

Front 13

What is the difference between social learning, social exchange, and symbolic interaction theories of attraction?

Back 13

- Social learning: We are attracted to those that we find rewarding and repelled by those who create costs.

- Social exchange: we are attracted to those who offer the greatest profit margin in on-going social interactions

- Symbolic interaction: We are attracted to those with whom we share a common set of meanings and values because they give us a sense of who we are and affirm our definitions of reality

Front 14

According to social learning theory, what are three types of stimuli that are important in initial attraction to another?

Back 14

1. Physical Appearance: we learn to associate rewards with certain physical characteristics

2. Social Status: we learn to associate rewards with certain status characteristics

3. Personality and Interaction Style: we come to find certain personalities and interaction styles to be more rewarding as a result of prior experiences

Front 15

What is the relationship between physical beauty and relationship formation?

Back 15

We want to form relationships with those we find attractive. Beauty is often the initial basis for starting a relationship.

Front 16

What is the “bias for beauty”?

Back 16

The bias for beauty is assuming that what is beautiful is good and that we want to surround our selves with those who are beautiful.

Front 17

According to social exchange theory, why might we not attempt to form a relationship with someone who fits all the cultural ideals for physical appearance?

Back 17

We are attracted to those who give us the greatest potential for profit given our own resources. That is, we need someone who can match what we have to offer, not just who is the best.

Front 18

How are marriage markets like job markets?

Back 18

Initially we are attracted to the highest reward jobs given training but eventually w modify our expectations and find less rewarding jobs attractive. Same thing with potential partners.

Front 19

Traditionally, what was the normative exchange between men and women in relationships? According to personals ads, how has this changed?

Back 19

- The traditional normative exchange was that men exchange financial resources for youth and beauty of women, and visa versa.

- Women's stated preference in personal ads's for financial resources is weaker today than in the past and requests for more emotional characteristics have increased.

Front 20

According to symbolic interaction theory, what is the primary determinant of attraction to another?

Back 20

Attitudinal similarity is the most important factor in attraction. Perceived similarity is important in initial attraction while actual similarity is more important for the maintenance of the relationship.

Front 21

Why does attitudinal similarity predict attraction? Three reasons.

Back 21

1. Ease of social interaction
2. Reassurance from shared world view
3. Positive reflected appraisals and self-affirmation

Front 22

How does personality similarity/dissimilarity affect attraction?

Back 22

- Yes: “birds of a feather flock together”

- No: “opposites attract”

Front 23

What are the three dimensions along which personality similarity has been observed in relationships?

Back 23

1. Attachment Styles

2. Cognitive Complexity

3. Mood States

Front 24

What is the idea of “complementary needs”? Is this theory valid?

Back 24

We can have different traits that fit like puzzle pieces. For example: Submissive-Dominant. But that example is the only one that has much weight and could reflect that relationships aren't equal rather than we compliment one another.

Front 25

What does the research say about the effect of being with a physically attractive other in terms of how others evaluate our own attractiveness?

Back 25

-Men and women are perceived to be more attractive when with an attractive same-sex model.

-Men (only) are perceived to be more attractive when with an attractive opposite-sex model.

Front 26

Why is men’s attractiveness enhanced by their association with a beautiful woman, but women’s attractiveness is not enhanced by their association with a beautiful man?

Back 26

- Women are beautiful enough all on their own. But men become more valuable to women when women can see that they are desired by other attractive women who could get any man anyways.

Front 27

What are four mechanisms by which beauty determines our attraction?

Back 27

1. Evolutionary advantage: beauty=health/youth/strength

2. Direct Aesthetic Rewards (socially constructed standards)

3. Generalization of external to internal traits and skill

4. Association with beauty yields rewards

Front 28

What is the “what is beautiful is good” stereotype? Does this stereotype reflect reality? How might this stereotype create a “self-fulfilling prophecy”?

Back 28

- Generalization of external to internal traits and skill

- This stereotype is not realistic

- If we expect those who are be beautiful to be good, than we will treat them like they are good, and they then might become good.

Front 29

Are the beautiful more socially skilled? Are the beautiful better adjusted?

Back 29

This is true for men but not true for women because women tend to be more socially skilled anyways because of socialization. Beautiful people aren't necessarily better adjusted.

Front 30

How does self-monitoring affect the importance of physical traits in attraction?

Back 30

High self-monitors value beauty more.

Front 31

How quickly do we form first impressions?

Back 31

We form impressions of others with in a fraction of a second.

Front 32

What are some of the cues (4) people use to form first impressions?

Back 32

1. Stereotypes

2. Self-Descriptions

3. Compliance with Behavioral Norms

4. Social and physical Associations

Front 33

What are “the primacy effect” and “confirmation bias”? How are they different? How do they affect relationships?

Back 33

- Primacy effect: interpretations are contextualized by prior interpretations, later traits are more likely to be treated as secondary and therefore less important

- Confirmation bias: we look for evidence that our first impressions are correct rather than look for contrary evidence

- Impact on relationship: premature commitment (we don't do hypoth testing in the first stages of relationship)

Front 34

What is the “overconfidence effect”?

Back 34

We are usually unaware of our misrepresentations and thus confidence in impressions increase more than accuracy over time.

Front 35

What are the potential negative impacts of romantic beliefs and idealization on relationships?

Back 35

Disillusionment --> eventually unrealistic beliefs are going to be proved wrong. So the more realistic the beliefs the better.

Front 36

What two factors enhance the stability of first impressions?

Back 36

1. Romanticism

2. Commitment Level

Front 37

What two factors tend to distort our impressions of romantic partners?

Back 37

1. Romanticism Beliefs

2. Idealization

Front 38

What are some of the characteristics of romantic love that bias our perceptions of our partner and relationships?

Back 38

- Love is perfect

- Love at first sight

- Only true and perfect love

- True love can overcome all obstacles

Front 39

What is idealization and how does it bias our perceptions of a romantic partner?

Back 39

Exaggeration of positives and dismissal of negatives. We put our partners on a pedestal.

Front 40

What are some of the potential positive impacts of romantic beliefs and idealization on relationships?

Back 40

- Greater commitment, love and satisfaction

- Increased self-esteem for self and partner

- Self-fulfilling prophecies (positive perceptions --> positive expectations --> positive behaviors of the other -->positive perception . . . etc)

- Relationship enhancing attributions

Front 41

What is social penetration theory?

Back 41

Disclosure develops incrementally and reciprocally in two parts: Breadth of disclosure and Depth of disclosure.

Front 42

What is the difference between breadth and depth of disclosure?

Back 42

Breadth is the prescriptive disclosure (range of life areas discussed) and Depth is the evaluative disclosure (emotional and psychological significance of information)

Front 43

What is uncertainty reduction and why is it important in social penetration theory?

Back 43

Social background predicts attitudes and values and increases probability of compatibility and reduces risks. Engaging in incrementally more self-disclosure allows us to find out if we match on surface levels before we reveal who we intimately (vulnerably) are. It establishes grounds for trust.

Front 44

What does the research say about the validity of the social penetration theory?

Back 44

Some of reveal a whole bunch right away, but most of us do tend to follow the pie technique/social penetration theory to build intimacy in our relationships.

Front 45

What does it mean to say that humans are “rational” hedonists?

Back 45

We asses and manipulate sources of rewards and costs. There is a evaluative relationship as well as interactional outcomes.

Front 46

In assessing profit, what types of rewards and costs do humans take into consideration?

Back 46

1. Material vs. Non-material

2. Short term vs. Long term

3. Direct costs vs opportunity costs

Front 47

What is the difference between a direct cost and an opportunity cost?

Back 47

A direct cost is the money you spend etc.

A opportunity cost is the cost of being in that relationship means that you can't take opportunities for alternative relationships.

Front 48

How do individuals evaluate the profits they get in their relationships?

Back 48

We use our comparison levels (is what I'm getting enough compared to the cultural/my standards).

Consider: the profit level of same relationship in the past. The profit level realized by similar others in similar relationships.

Front 49

What is the Comparison Level for Alternatives? How is it determined?

Back 49

The profit expected from being involved in a different relationship.

Consider: Perceived potential quality of alternatives. Perceived cost of ending the current relationship

Front 50

What are three factors that can change the CLALT?

Back 50

1. Availability of alternatives: Relationship market place conditions and marketability

2. Availability of alternatives: availability of resources and viable economic roles.

3. Changes in the costs of dissolution: financial, social, psychological, emotional

Front 51

What are three forces that can change the comparison level?

Back 51

1. Change in personal resources (winning the lottery)

2. Change in socio-cultural context (feminist movement)

3. Change in developmental stage (age and stage specific norms)

Front 52

What is the nature of “investments” that get made in relationships?

Back 52

Resources or costs that are expended in a relationship in anticipation of future returns.

Front 53

What is Entrapment? How is it related to perceptions and relationship dynamics?

Back 53

- Entrapment: We put so much into relationships sometimes we can get to the point where if we were to leave the relationship we'd be a mess because of the level of investment we have made.

- Entrapment can create distorted perceptions of rewards and increased commitment to a bad relationship.

Front 54

What is Reciprocity? How can two people in the same relationship both feel reciprocity?

Back 54

- Reciprocity: An expectation that we will receive in equal or greater measure to what we give

- If they both give equally, ie, if there is equity.

Front 55

What is Equity? How is it related to equality of rewards or equality of costs?

Back 55

- Equity: a condition of equity in the ratios of rewards to costs between members of a relationship. If we are getting the same amounts we don't question the ratio, we just go with it.

Front 56

How does equity vs. inequity (over or under benefit) affect relationship satisfaction and dynamics?

Back 56

- We prefer to be slightly over-benefited and are dissatisfied with under-benefit and extreme over-benefit.

- With under-benefit we find anger, depression (males) , and frustration (females).

- With over benefit we find guilt.

Front 57

Why are under-benefited and over-benefited persons unsatisfied?

Back 57

We prefer equity and fairness (a sense that one is getting what one deserves from a relationship and that their partner is getting what he/she deserves).

Front 58

What are the two strategies used to restore or create equity in an inequitable relationship?

Back 58

1. Reduce one's own costs; Increase one's own rewards

2. Reduce other's rewards; Increase other's costs.

Front 59

What are the three determinants of Fairness in a relationship?

Back 59

1. Type of comparison (internal v. external)

2. Level of equity in relationship

3. Degree of Justification (make an internal comparison and don't see equality= unfair. BUT make an external comparison and find different level of other's investments, social or economic conditions beyond other's control, and a high level of appreciation inequality can be fair!)

Front 60

What is the difference between internal and external comparisons? How do these determine perceptions of fairness when relationships are unequal?

Back 60

- Internal Comparisons are more rational/modern/egalitarian. Internal inequality is not fair.

-External Comparisons are more traditional culturally focused. External inequality can still be fair.

Front 61

What is the difference between Relationship Quality/Satisfaction and Relationship Stability/Instability? How are these two concepts related? How are they shaped by different forces?

Back 61

- Relationship quality: determined by the level of profit in a relationship relative to some comparison level or expectation for profit.

- Relationship stability: is determined by the level of profit in a relationship relative to the Comparison Level for Alternatives

Front 62

What combinations of satisfaction and stability are found among married couples?

Back 62

1. High quality - High stability

2. Low quality - Low stability

3. High quality -Low stability

4. Low quality - High stability (empty shell)

Front 63

What is (global) commitment?

Back 63

A perception that one's relationship is long term and essential to one's emotional well being, accompanied by a desire to stay and maintain that relationship overtime.

Front 64

How do factors such as relationship satisfaction, barriers to dissolution, access to alternatives and relationship investments create commitment to a relationship?

Back 64

- Higher levels of relationship satisfaction = more commitment

- More barriers to dissolution = more commitment

- Less access to alternatives = more commitment

- More relationship investments = more commitment

Front 65

According to Johnson, et al., what are the three types of relationship commitment and how do they develop over the course of a relationship?

Back 65

1. Personal commitment -reward (important at the beginning or a relationship)

2. Structural commitment (important later on in a relationship) - constraint

3. Moral commitment (important both early in a relationship and later on in a relationship)

Front 66

What are the determinants and consequences of commitment in relationships?

Back 66

- Determinants: satisfaction level, quality of alternatives, investments, external barriers and attractors

- Consequences: accommodative behavior, willingness to sacrifice own interests, perceived superiority of relationship, stability of relationship

Front 67

What are the stages of Commitment development in a relationship?

Back 67

1. Exploratory stage

2. Consolidation Stage

3. Committed stage

Front 68

How are the stages of commitment related to the type of exchange found in the relationship, attention given to short-term vs. long-term profit outcomes, attention given to alternatives, and the occurrence of generalized exchange?

Back 68

1. Exploratory stage: strict exchanges (focused on short term outcomes), active comparison for alternatives, no generalized exchange (exchange with relationship v. individual)

2. Consolidation stage: confident exchange (short-term and long-term orientation), reduction in attention to alternatives, development of generalized exchange

3. Committed stage: committed exchange (long-term profitability focused), discounting of alternatives, generalized exchange reached

Front 69

How does the basis for “obligation” change as relationships develop greater levels of commitment?

Back 69

The more commitment the more feelings of mutual obligation. Committed partners feel indebtedness.

Front 70

What is meant by “Maximum Joint Profit and Trust” and “Interlocking Interest Spheres”? What do these two developments mean for the development of commitment in a relationship?

Back 70

- Development of Maximum Joint Profit and Trust: Beginning to identify with the relationship leads to the allocation of rewards to the relationship (happens during the exploratory stage, low levels of commitment)

- Interlocking Interest Spheres: Increased interdependency of rewards (happens during the consolidation stage, slightly higher levels of commitment)

Front 71

What does it mean to say that love is a social construction?

Back 71

Love is not a primary emotion but when we believe we are feeling "love" we are actually feeling other emotions. It is the conditions of society (in which we are feeling emotions) that guide us through our emotions and tell us the appropriate feelings for the appropriate contexts/objects.

Front 72

What are the four components of what we think of as love and how are they different from each other?

Back 72

1. Emotional/physical component

2. Cognitive component

3. Relationship component

4. Behavioral component

Front 73

What are the four essential features of a primary emotion according to Kemper?

Back 73

1. ontogenetic primacy

2. cross-cultural universality

3. differential autonomic patterns

4. evolutionary value

Front 74

What is ontogenetic primacy and how does it relate to the question of primary emotions?

Back 74

The emotion is present in early life. Are only primary emotions present in infants?

Front 75

What is cross-cultural universality and how does it relate to the question of primary emotions?

Back 75

We see the emotion in all cultures/universally. All societies have strong attachments and sexual desire, but definitions of love and the linkage of love to marriage are highly variable.

Front 76

What are differential autonomic patterns and how do they relate to the question of primary emotions?

Back 76

Specific physiological occur with the emotion. Can the same be said for love (there is no "love" facial expression)?

Front 77

What is evolutionary value and how does it relate to the question of primary emotions?

Back 77

Adaptive predispositions associated exclusively with the emotion (anxiety and fight or flight). Is love evolutionarily adaptive?

Front 78

What are the four primary emotions according to Kemper?

Back 78

1. Fear

2. Anger

3. Depression

4. Satisfaction

Front 79

What is a secondary emotion?

Back 79

An organized response disposition elicited and accompanied by one or more primary emotions but socially constructed through the attachment of social definitions, labels and meanings to differential conditions of interaction and social organization.

Front 80

What is Schachter’s two-factor theory of love?

Back 80

Love is a (1) misattribution of an ambiguous state of physiological arousal in the (2) presence of an acceptable love object in an acceptable interpersonal situation.

Front 81

What is Zillman’s excitation transfer theory of love?

Back 81

Love results when experiencing an intense arousal from an outside force and a less intense arousal from the other.

Front 82

How are Schachter and Zillman’s theories similar and different (2 similarities, 1 difference)?

Back 82

- Both theories involve physiological arousal and the misattribution of the source of arousal to a love object, thus experiencing feelings of love.

- Both theories imply that love is a secondary emotion (social construct)

- The love object according to Schacter is not a physiological stimulus, just the standard. BUT the love object according to Zillman must have some stimulus value all on it's own (we don't become attracted to those we dislike from the beginning)

Front 83

What would a behaviorist say about the findings and conclusions of Dutton and Zillmann's studies?

Back 83

Behaviorists would argue that love is a learned response conditioned by positive and negative reinforcement. In the Dutton study the researcher took away negative state (thus soothing)

Front 84

What does the data say about the validity of the three theories (Schacter, Zillman, Behaviorists) regarding love as a secondary emotion ?

Back 84

- It does seem that love is a secondary emotion because it can be misattributed when there is an ambiguous arousal stimulus.

- The more ambiguous and aroused the less socially appropriate love object matters

- Stimulus value is not essential but increases the excitation transfer effect

- Love object does not have to provide rewards or take away the negative emotional state

Front 85

What is the cognitive component of love?

Back 85

Love is a way of thinking about another based on a constructed ideal of "love."

Front 86

How do cognitive schema work to create a state of love in a person? How do these cognitive schema of love develop? How can they change?

Back 86

- We fall in love with those who are perceived to fit within the parameters of our cognitive schema of love.

- Social constructs and socialization play a role in the development of love schemas

- Once we have chosen a partner we can renegotiate our love schemas to fit our current relationship.

Front 87

What is obsessive intensification? How does it relate to feelings of love?

Back 87

The more you think of someone, the more you will love them. The more you love someone, the more you will think about them.

Front 88

According to Rubin, what is the difference between loving and liking (3 each)? To what extent are the two phenomena correlated for men and women?

Back 88

- Liking: favorable evaluations of the other, respect for the other, cognitive identification with the other (perceived similarity).

- Loving: Affiliative and dependent need toward other, exclusiveness and self absorption with the other, commitment and willingness to sacrifice for the other

- There is a low correlation between liking and love, especially for women.

Front 89

What is the relationship component of love?

Back 89

- Love is a way of relating to one another

Front 90

How do forms of attachment relate to forms of love?

Back 90

- Secure attachments = companionate love

- Anxious/ambivalent = obsessive love

Front 91

What is the behavioral component of love? What does “doing love” mean?

Back 91

- Love is a category of social behaviors.

- Doing love means that you put on the actions and behaviors of love and that shows that you are in love.

Front 92

How have cultural conceptions of loved changed over history?

Back 92

Love has been spiritual, physical, outside of a marriage, love as a game, outside of marriage, homosexual, heterosexual, devout/spiritual love, and courtly love.

This point is love is an ever changing social construct.

Front 93

What is the difference between the Greek agape and eros forms of love? How do these forms relate to gender relationships and to marriage?

Back 93

- Agape: spiritual love (platonic), highest and most noble love

- Eros: physical love, pleasure principle

- Agape was between two men and outside of marriage while Eros was between a man and a wife

Front 94

What is the Roman “amor ludens” refer to? How does this form of love relate to gender relationships and to marriage?

Back 94

- Amor ludens: love as a game

- Love was reserved for extra-marital relationships and was more of a chess match than a relationship. This type of love was also heterosexual

Front 95

How did the early Christians conceive of love?

Back 95

They saw love as spiritual, as a selfless devotion to god and his agents on earth. Love was non-sexual and not thought of in human relationships at all.

Front 96

How did the Renaissance change conceptions of love and lead to modern day views of romantic love?

Back 96

- Courtly Love: a multidimensional concept involving physical, behavioral, and cognitive components. (this is similar to today)

- Also marriage was more about property and not about love, love was still an extramarital affair . . . love in marriage developed when the economic base in society changed, allowing more economic freedom for more people.