Formation of relationships
- Created by: Bethwhitfield
- Created on: 08-04-16 16:41
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- THE FORMATION OF RELATIONSHIPS
- THE REWARD/ NEED SATISFACTION MODEL
- The reason we spend so much time in social relationships is because we find them rewarding and we find being alone unpleasant and lacking in reward.
- Classical conditioning: We may associate an individual with positive circumstance, such as creating a relaxing atmosphere. For example, if you meet someone when you are in a good mood, you are more likely to associate them with a positive feeling.
- Operant conditioning
- Positive reinforcement: positive non-verbal cues are seen as rewarding, such as smiling. If somebody makes you feel good about yourself you are more likely to want to be in a relationship with them
- Negative reinforcement: If a person helps you deal with negative feelings you may be attracted to them. (shoulder to cry on)
- RESEARCH-May and Hamilton: asked female to rate photos of males whilst listening to either pleasant or unpleasant music. Those listening to pleasant music rated male more attractive. -Cunningham: asked males to watch either a sad or happy film and then interact with females. More positive interaction came from these watching the happy film, rather than the sad one.
- EVALUATION -Too simplistic -Gender differences -Ignores the role of evolution in forming relationships
- The reason we spend so much time in social relationships is because we find them rewarding and we find being alone unpleasant and lacking in reward.
- THE MATCHING HYPOTHESIS
- Two people that are in a relationship are similar in terms of attractiveness
- Value match: a compromise between our ideal partner and what is available.
- Walster's two hypotheses: the more socially desirable an individual is, the more desirable they would expect a partner to be; couples who are well matched are more likely to enjoy an enduring, successful relationship than those who are not well matched.
- RESEARCH STUDIES: -Walster et al: participants filled in a questionnaire as part of a 'computer dance', meanwhile an unseen observer matched them based on physical attractiveness.The participants expressed that they most liked those with a similar level of attractiveness.-Murnstein: 197 college couples, asked to rate attractiveness of themselves and their partner. Found that couples who shared a similar level of attractiveness were more likely to form intimate relationships than those who were dissimilar. -White: Measured relative physical attractiveness of couples in various statuses of relationship. A 9 month follow up showed that similarity of attractiveness was predictive of courtship progress for those who had initially been casually or seriously dating
- EVALUATION: -Too Simplistic -Supporting research -Gender differences -Individuals are not the only ones responsible for deciding on a match (friends, family) -Practical applications (dating websites)
- Two people that are in a relationship are similar in terms of attractiveness
- THE REWARD/ NEED SATISFACTION MODEL
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