Insights on Interpersonal Attraction, Relationships, and Love
Discover the significance of relationships in life, explore factors influencing interpersonal attraction like proximity, similarity, and physical appearance. Delve into stereotypes related to attractiveness, learn about Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love, different types of love such as Companionate, Passionate, and Consummate Love. Understand cultural differences in perceiving love and the concept of attachment in forming emotional bonds.
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Presentation Transcript
INTERPERSONAL ATTRACTION Chapter 14
WHY ARE RELATIONSHIPS IMPORTANT? Much of the day-to-day meaning in life comes from them. People feel lonely and alienated without them
FACTORS IN INTERPERSONAL ATTRACTION Proximity/propinquity Mere exposure Similarity Attitudes and values Physical appearance Interests demographics
FACTORS IN INTERPERSONAL ATTRACTION Physical Appearance/attractiveness Reciprocal Liking Familiarity Related to propinquity, similarity, and reciprocal liking
WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL IS GOOD Stereotype: attractive people are more extraverted, sociable and popular They are more assertive, sexual, and happier May be a self-fulfilling prophecy
WHAT IS LOVE? Sternberg s Triangular Theory 1) passion 2) intimacy 3) commitment
TYPES OF LOVE Companionate Love Intimacy and affection without passion
TYPES OF LOVE Passionate Love Intense longing with physiological arousal
TYPES OF LOVE Consummate Love Involves passion, intimacy, and commitment
LOVE IS UNIVERSAL Cultural differences in Expectations and experience Americans value passionate love Asian collectivist societies value companionate love Romantic love is almost universal
WHAT IS ATTACHMENT? Attachment an emotional bond between two people
ATTACHMENT Styles usually based on experience with mother/caregiver as a baby Style can be modified in adulthood
WHEN, HOW & WHY DOES ATTACHMENT DEVELOP? By 6 months, infants show obvious signs of attachment to their mothers (primary caregivers) Freud suggested that this is the foundation for all later relationships. Psychoanalysts & behaviorists thought that feeding was the basis for attachment. Harry Harlowe later demonstrated that contact comfort was the important variable.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Harlow s Surrogate Mother Experiments Monkeys preferred contact with the comfortable cloth mother, even while feeding from the nourishing wire mother
ATTACHMENT & LATER DEVELOPMENT Attachment provides inner feelings of affection & security. Securely attached preschoolers were high in self-esteem, socially competent, cooperative and popular. Avoidantly attached agemates were isolated and disconnected. Resistantly attached agemates were disruptive and difficult.
ATTACHMENT STYLES Mary Ainsworth (1979) identified three attachment styles between infants and caregiver: Secure attachment style (70%) - caregiver is responsive to infant s needs; infant trusts caregiver Avoidant attachment style (20%) - caregiver is distant or rejecting; infant suppresses desire to be close to caregiver Ambivalent attachment style (10%) - caregiver is inconsistently available and overbearing with affection; infant clings anxiously to caregiver and then fights against closeness by pushing away
LINKS BETWEEN ATTACHMENT IN CHILDHOOD AND CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS IN ADULTHOOD Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver (1987) examined continuity between childhood attachment and romantic relationships Securely attached infants are more likely to have a secure attachment to adult romantic partner Individuals with avoidant attachment style in childhood find it difficult to develop intimate relationship in adulthood Individuals can revise attachment styles in adulthood
TYPES OF ATTACHMENT IN ADOLESCENCE Secure autonomous Dismissing avoidant Rejected by caregiver; deny importance of attachment; related to violent behavior Preoccupied ambivalent Attachment seeking; parent inconsistently available; high conflict Unresolved disorganized Had traumatic experience; disoriented, fearful
ADULT ATTACHMENT STYLES Secure good relationships: trust; not concerned about being abandoned, sees self-as worthy, well-liked Insecure avoidant difficulty establishing relationships; quickly end relationships; suppresses attachment needs due to having been rebuffed Ambivalent less trusting, more jealous, tend to anger and emotional intensity, anxiety over concern that need for intimacy will not be reciprocated
SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY Economic model of rewards and costs Relationship satisfaction based on: Rewards and costs Relationship deserved Chances of a better relationship
SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY Terms Comparison level expectations, relationship satisfaction depends on this Comparison level for alternatives What are your chances of a better relationship? Also affects relationship satisfaction
INVESTMENT MODEL The theory that relationship commitment depends on not only the comparison level and comparison level for alternatives, but on how much they have invested in the relationship and stand to lose if they leave.
EQUITY THEORY The best relationships are those where both parties are making roughly equal contributions (and rewards = costs). These relationships are the most stable and the happiest.
ONE PERSON OVER-BENEFITTED Low cost, high reward Does not devote enough time and effort to the relationship
ONE-PERSON UNDERBENEFITTED High-cost, low reward Devotes much time and energy Inequity more important to this person
ENDING RELATIONSHIPS In America, the divorce rate is nearly 50% of the current marriage rate (Probably more realistically 30% overall).
BEHAVIOR IN TROUBLED RELATIONSHIPS Actively harming the relationship: Partner abuse Threatening to leave Leaving Passively permitting deterioration: Ignoring partner refusing to deal with problems
BEHAVIOR IN TROUBLED RELATIONSHIPS Constructive Behaviors Passive loyalty waiting and being optimistic not fighting, being supportive Active Attempts to Improve discussing problems going to counseling trying to change
THE PROCESS OF BREAKING UP Breakers feel less distress than breakers. Try to make it mutual.
