Attraction

What is the economic view of relationships?

Maximize rewards (companionship, material resources) and minimize costs (conflict, sacrifices)

What is one possibility for gender differences?

Men and women have evolved different preferences

What general age groups does each sex look for?

Men look for younger women, while women look for older men

When does jealousy come into play with each gender?

Men may fear the child is not theirs and don't want to waste resources, while women don't want his resources given to other women

How do men and women display what is desired?

Men show off their resources, while flaunt their appearance

According to evolutionary theory, what does each gender look for in the opposite sex?

Men: Look for women who are attractive as they seem to have more reproductive potential Women: Look for men who have resources and can provide for offspring

Is there a relationship between attractiveness, intellect, happiness, self-esteem, or mental health?

NO

What is the equation for the equity theory?

your benefits/your contributions = partner's benefits/ partner's contributions

What are the 6 types of love styles? Describe each

1) Eros: Love at first sight 2) Agape: Putting one's lover above one's self 3) Mania: Feeling of ownership over lover 4) Pragma: Cognitive appreciation for other's qualities 5) Ludus: Flirtatious and not committed 6) Sorge: Very close friendship becomes love

What are 5 things many mates match on?

1) Ethnic backgrounds 2) Religion/values 3) Social class 4) Personality 5) Physical attractiveness

What are the 2 types of proximity:

1) Geographical distance: Literal distance 2) Functional distance: Likelihood that you will come into contact with them

What 3 things do we need to know to predict whether or not they will stay in an intimate relationship?

1) How satisfied they are with the relationship 2) What they think of their alternatives 3) How great their investment in the relationship is

Reciprocal liking is powerful enough to overcome what 2 things?

1) Lack of similarity 2) Attention to beauty

What are the 7 types of love? What make up each one?

1) Liking: Intimacy alone 2) Companionate love: Intimacy + commitment 3) Empty love: Commitment alone 4) Fatuous love: Passion + commitment 5) Infatuation: Passion alone 6) Romantic love: Intimacy + passion 7) Consummate love: Intimacy + passion + commitment

What 3 things specific to gender differences can evolutionary theory explain?

1) Mate selection 2) Jealousy 3) Promiscuity

Which sex experiences the love style of eros more? Mania? Pragma? Ludus? Storge?

Eros: Men Mania: Women Pragma: Women Ludus: Men Storge: Women

What is the difference between exchange relationship and communal relationship?

Exchange relationships are governed by the need for equity, while communal relationships are primarily concerned with being responsive to the other person's needs

What kind of features do men find attractive?

Expressive features

True or false: Opposites attract

False

Describe liking

-Bondedness, warmth, and closeness -Friends

Describe companionate love

-Intimacy, affection, and deep caring -NO passion or arousal -Close friendships, family

Describe infatuation

-Love at first sight -Can be obsessive -Great sadness if love not reciprocated -Intense longing and physiological arousal

Describe empty love

-No emotion or physical relationship -Example: Beginnings of an arranged marriage

Describe romantic love

-Physical attraction and sharing of emotions -NOT long term (ex: summer fling, affair)

Describe consummate love

-Ultimate ideal love, combines all components -The love people strive for

Describe fatuous love

-Whirlwind courtship and marriage -Commitment is motivated by passion w/out intimacy

What are the 3 attachment styles?

1) Secure attachment: An attachment characterized by trust and the view that one is worthy and well-liked 2) Avoidant attachment: An attachment characterized by difficulty developing intimate relationships because previous attempts to be intimate were rejected 3) Anxious/ambivalent attachment: An attachment characterized by a concern that others will not reciprocate one's desire for intimacy

Which love style is highly correlated with religiosity?

Agape

What is passion?

Drives toward INTENSE emotions (ex: sexual attraction, physiological arousal)

What do people automatically do when they see attractive people?

Assign favorable traits to them (e.g. talent, kindness, honesty, intelligence)

Why wouldn't a woman want her mate to be adventurous?

Because if he's involved in risk-taking behavior, he may get hurt and no longer be able to provide

Why are men more promiscuous?

Because it's easier to reproduce, while women have a limited supply of eggs, time, and resources

Why are perfectly averages face the most attractive?

Because of familiarity and symmetry

Why do we become attracted to others?

Because we have a strong need to belong and affiliate with others

What does inequity cause? What feelings does the underbenefited feel? Overbenefited?

Causes less satisfaction with relationship Underbenefited: Angry and resentful Overbenefited: Guilty

What is the comparison level for alternatives? What does it mean to have a low comparison level for alternatives? High comparison level for alternatives?

Comparison level of alternatives: Expected rewards and costs for an alternative relationship Low: High commitment to current relationship High: Low commitment to current relationship

Describe comparison level. What does it mean for someone to have a low comparison level? High comparison level?

Comparison level: Expected rewards and costs of the relationship Low: Easily satisfied High: Not easily satisfied

What ultimately determines relationship satisfaction?

Comparison of rewards and costs

What is more important than superficial similarity?

Core values

What are "average" features?

Features that are of average size proportional to the face and are symmetrical

Define intimacy

Feelings of closeness, connectedness, and bondedness

Who is more likely to want to remain friends after a relationship?

Female breakees

Sternberg's triangular theory of love consists of what three components?

Intimacy, passion, and commitment

What is a criticism of the evolutionary theory?

It focuses mainly on heterosexual relationships

Is equity theory the same as equality?

NO-- one partner may get more benefits, but if he/she can also make more contributions, then the relationship can still be equitable

What does the equity theory state?

People are most satisfied in relationships in which the ratio of rewards to costs is the same for both people

Why does similarity matter?

People who are similar to us validate our own characteristics and beliefs

What is often the overriding determinant of whether or not we like someone?

Physical attractiveness

What are features of sexual maturity?

Prominent cheekbones, large chin (males only), facial/eyebrow hair (males only_

What kind of culture places more emphasis on romantic love? companionate love?

Romantic love: Individualistic Companionate love: Collectivist

What are the two types of commitment? Explain each

Short term: Decision to love someone Long term: Decision to maintain love

What kind of partner is someone going to choose for a one-night stand?

Someone completely different than them

What is the most common love style?

Storge

What did Hendrick and Hendrick's study show?

That romantic partners tend to have similar love styles

What did the Westgate West study show?

That the closer the students are in the dorm, the more they indicated closeness with the people (even a few doors down)

What kind of look is most attractive?

The "baby face" Large eyes, small nose and chin, big smile

Describe the mere exposure effect

The more exposure we have to a stimulus (e.g. foreign words, faces, music, etc.), the more apt we are to like it

What is proximity/propinquity?

The more we see and interact with people, the more likely we are to develop relationships with them

What is the halo effect?

The stereotype that what is attractive/beautiful is "good"

Define investment model

The theory that people's commitment to a relationship not only depends on their satisfaction with the relationship, but also how much they have invested in the relationship that would be lost by ending it (i.e. one's children)

How does genetics come into play with attraction?

We are more drawn to those who are genetically similar to us

What is similarity in terms of attraction?

We like those people who match our interests, personality, backgrounds, attitudes, etc.

What is reciprocal liking?

We tend to like people who like us

Men are usually more jealous of what, while women are more jealous of what?

Women are more jealous by emotional infidelity, while men are more hurt by sexual infidelity