Psy 220- Attraction & Friendship

Georg Simmel

Exchange involves sacrifice; we sacrifice something we value less for something we value more.

George Homans

According to Homans, people consider the rewards vs. the costs of any relations.

Thibaut and Kelly – comparison levels (C.L.)

we make two kinds of comparisons to evaluate any interpersonal relationship

(C.L.) Comparison 1

whether our current relationship meets our expectations about what we think we deserve from a relationship (absolute standard)

(C.L.) Comparison 2

comparison levels for alternatives; how our current relationship compares to other options

principle of least interest

person with least interest tends to have most power.

Refinements to exchange model- Behavioural psychology

rewards lose power over time. This occurs because needs can be satiated, and once satiated, the intensity of a reward is reduced

Rewards

based on subjective expectations, rewards that fail to match those expectations can also weaken an interpersonal relationship.

Equity Theory

suggests that people evaluate relationships in terms of “fairness” and “justness”.

stage model of interpersonal relationships (S.I.R.) (SHORT ANSWER)

Zero Contact, Awareness, Surface Contact, Mutuality.

(S.I.R.) Zero Contact

when two people are unrelated an unaware of one another

(S.I.R.) Awareness

when people form initial impressions of others, typically based on surface features

(S.I.R.) Surface Contact

when two people who are aware of one another interact – the likelihood of this occurring depends on cost-benefit inference (exchange model) as well as similarity information

(S.I.R.) Mutuality

at this stage, the interpersonal relationship goes beyond positive social interactions and typically involves some degree of personal intimacy and mutual self-disclosure

Affinity Principle

People are attracted to others on the basis of perceived similarity

Goldberg and Zorn study

In a Canadian study conducted in 1979, Goldberg and Zorn studied play-mate preferences.

Results of Goldberg and Zorn Study

When group 1 of kids were shown cross-cultural media, they were more likely to hangout with playmates of diversity than the group without exposure.

Liking the Unlikeable (Tyler and Sears – 1977)

Studies on “no-choice” friendships

Research Design on Liking the Unlikeable

participant would be required to have discussions with others for 40 minutes. Paired w/ a researcher who acted obnoxiously.

Results of Liking the Unlikeable Study

Those stuck w/ person had more positive regards towards obnoxious person. Person choosing obnoxious person, had negative regards.

Conclusion of Liking the Unlikeable:

We see people we are stuck with as more favorable.

Mechanism of Liking the Unlikeable

one explanation is that they may form an affinity because of “shared fate”. Or people see themselves as somehow “belonging” together.

Complementarity

Research looking into instances where dissimilar people form relationships suggests that there’s some situations where dissimilarities form a friendship

Westgate West Study (!!!)

Leon Festinger et al looked at student residences at MIT in 1950 in order to determine friendship patterns. He gave out a survey.

The findings of Westgate Study

2/3 of people were friends with other residents in same building. 44% were friends with their next-door neighbours. Only 10% of respondents were friends with people on the other end of the hall on their floor.

Observations of Westgate Study

Pre-existing similarities/differences were less important than spatial proximity and familiarity.

One lesson of Westgate Study

urban planning/development – urge the creation of de-segregated housing complexes to foster “friendships” across racial divides

Re-Evaluation: Cherry and the Stubborn Particulars (C.S.P.)

Cherry went back and re-examined the research data – focus on details left out of the initial analysis

Results of Cherry’s re-evalutation

Women in the made complex building did seek for better supports together. People prefer to make their own choices and prefer to do so based on affinity.

Time Permitting: Balance Theory

Balance theory considers how people manage interpersonal relationships that involve more than two people.

Balance Theory Explanation

Think of Amy, Milo, Blayne friendship balance. Friend A likes friend B and M. but B and M do not like each other. Causes an imbalance.

Point of the Balance Theory Explanation

adds complexities that exchange and similarity models may not provide