Relationships (Psychology A level)

Sexual selection

Attributes or behaviours that increase reproductive success are passed on and may become exaggerated over succeeding generations of offspring

Inter-sexual selection

Strategy of the female - quality over quantity

Intra-sexual selection

Strategy of the male - quantity over quality. The competition between males to be able to mate with a female

Human reproductive behaviour

This refers to any behaviours which relate to opportunities to reproduce and thereby increase the survival chances of our genes.

Self-disclosure

Revealing intimate aspects of oneself to others

Physical attractiveness

How appealing we find a person's face

Matching hypothesis

We are attracted to people who approximately match us in physical attractiveness

The halo effect

How physical attractiveness tends to have an influence on our judgement of other people

Filter theory

Different factors limits the range of available romantic partners. It includes: social demography, similarity in attitudes, complementarity

Social demography

Geographical location and social class

Similarity in attitudes

We find partners who share our basic values attractive in the earlier stages of a relationship, so we tend to discount available individuals who differ markedly from us in their attitudes.

Complementarity

A need for your partner to balance your traits with opposite ones of their own

Social exchange theory

Romantic partners act out of self-interest in exchanging rewards and costs. Rewards exceed costs

Equity theory

Distribution of rewards and costs in a relationship is fair

Rusbult's Investment Model

Commitment depends on three factors: satisfaction, comparison with alternatives and investment

Satisfaction

The extent to which romantic partners feel the rewards of the relationship exceed the costs

Comparison with alternatives

A judgement that partners make concerning whether a relationship with a different partner would bring more rewards and fewer costs.

Investment

The resources associated with a romantic relationship which the partners would lose if the relationship were to end

Duck's phase model of relationship breakdown

The stages people go through when their relationship is not working. Phases include: intra-psychic, dyadic, social, grave-dressing and the resurrection phase

Intra-psychic phase

Have been thinking about the problems before and now finally think "I can't stand this anymore" and share thoughts with a friend

Dyadic phase

The two begin to discuss the status of the relationship and think "I would be justified in withdrawing"

Social phase

The break up is made public and partners seek support and try to forge pacts, mutual friends are meant to chose a side

Grave-dressing phase

The aftermath of the relationship. You try to keep a positive reputation whilst showing your ex in a bad light. You bury the dead relationship

Resurrection phase

Ex-partners turn their attention to future relationships using the experiences gained from their recently-ended one

The hyperpersonal model

Joseph Walther argues that online relationships can be more personal and involve greater self-disclosure that FtF ones because of how quickly they develop

Absence of gating

Any obstacle to the formation of a relationship e.g social anxiety. This is an advantage of virtual relationships because there is the absence of gating

Parasocial relationships

One-sided, unreciprocated relationships usually with a celebrity

Levels of parasocial relationships

Entertainment-social, intense-personal and borderline pathological

Entertainment-social

Celebrities are viewed as sources of entertainment and fuel for social interaction

Intense-personal

Reflects a greater personal involvement in a parasocial relationship with a celebrity

Borderline pathological

Celebrity worship and involves uncontrollable fantasies and extreme behaviours

The absorption- addiction model

Explains parasocial relationships as total pre-occupation in a celebrity's life, plus an addictive striving after a stronger involvement