COMM 445 CH. 3

Implicit egotism

we are attracted to others based on similarities in arbitrary thing like names, birth dates

Reinforcement model

we are attracted to similar others because they reinforce our view of the world as the correct perspective

Matching hypothesis

tendency to be attracted to people who are similar us in physical attractiveness

Qualities of the other

-what they bring to the interaction

Personal qualities

-what we bring to the interaction -our personality, needs, expectations, self-esteem, physical appearance, and level of communication skill

Ignorance is bliss explanation

People are happy with the way their low-skill partner communicates

The more similar others are to us, the more we will be attracted to them T/F?

TRUE (qualities of the pair)

Assimilation effect

The attention that physically attractive people get is transferred over to their friends

Interpersonal communication skills

These contribute to attraction: -warmth -kindness -sociability -competence -assertiveness

Altruistic and dominant men

These men are most appealing to women because of there assertiveness and willingness to do something boring

Subjective norms

attitudes of members of our social circle are the strongest predictor of our own attitudes -the feedback we receive plays a role in who we find attractive

Growth beliefs

based on the belief that impressions of others evolve over time and that people/relationships grow when challenged

Destiny beliefs

based on the idea that first impressions of others are fixed and enduring and that people can not change

Complementarity

better predictor of attraction and liking when linked to behavior or resources (not attitudes and values)

Reinforcement affect model

certain types of environments are more likely to make people feel good -people unconsciously associate the feelings they experience in a particular environment with the individual

Physical attraction

occurs when we are drawn to people's look or appearance

skill as culture explanation

people might consider their poor communication to be effective

Excitation transfer

people mistake the cause of their emotional arousal and attribute excitement to the second stimulus EX: unstable bridge study

Sour grapes explanation

people perceive high-skilled communication out of reach and settle

Differential importance explanation

people with low communication skills don't engage in communication very often and so they don't look for a high-skilled partner

Romeo and juilet effect

predicts that parental interference can strengthen attraction between two people -disapproval from parents causes more love between couple

Task attraction

refers to our desire to work with someone to fulfill instrumental goals EX: people you would like to work on a group project with

Attachment styles

reflect how people view themselves and their relationship with others

Sexual attraction

reflects the desire to engage in sexual activity with someone -typically accompanied with sexual arousal

Social attraction

reflects the feeling that we would like to be friends with someone

Loss-gain effect

reflects what happens to attraction when a person's behavior moves from positive to negative or vice versa -people are attracted to consistency even if negative

Qualities of the pair

similarities and differences between relational partners across a range of characteristics

Perceptions of reward value

the most powerful influence on our attraction to others -relates to our OWN interpersonal needs and preferences -what qualifies as rewarding varies from one person to another

Proximity

the reason why people at work or neighbors develop relationships easily

Halo effect

the tendency to perceive physically attractive people as more sociable

Fatal attraction

the very qualities that draw us to someone eventually contribute to relational breakup

Interaction appearance theory

theory that people believe perceive others as more physically attractive if they have warm, positive interactions with them

Secure individuals

these people are comfortable alone and in a relationship

Fearful avoidant individuals

these people fear intimacy and lack self-confidence

Dismissive individuals

these people people prefer to be alone and are unmotivated to develop/maintain relationships

Preoccupied individuals

these people want intimacy and fear being alone

Attitudinal similarity

when people are similar in attitudes, beliefs, and values -differences between actual and perceived similarity

Qualities of the physical or social environment

where the interaction takes place and feedback from friends and family