Social Behavior and Attraction Dynamics

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes on social behavior and attraction dynamics.

Proximity

Geographical nearness is the most powerful predictor of friendships and relationships.

Mere Exposure Effect

Repeated exposure to novel people or objects increases our liking for them; the more we see something, the more we like it.

Anterograde Amnesia

A form of amnesia where an individual cannot form new memories after an incident but can recall memories formed before the incident.

Attraction

The feeling that draws individuals together, often influenced by factors such as proximity, physical characteristics, and shared similarities.

Physical Attraction

An appeal or allure regarding someone's appearance, which may be influenced by cultural factors as well as individual preferences.

Symmetry

The quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis, often linked to concepts of attractiveness.

Attachment Theory

The psychological model that describes the dynamics of long-term and short-term interpersonal relationships, particularly between a child and a caregiver.

Secure Attachment

A strong emotional bond formed when a child has a responsive and sensitive caregiver; leads to healthy relationships later in life.

Insecure Attachment

A relationship where a child has an insensitive or unresponsive caregiver, resulting in anxiety and difficulty with intimacy in adulthood.

Altruism

The selfless concern for the welfare of others; an action that benefits others without expectation of personal gain.

Social Support

The physical and emotional comfort given to us by our family, friends, coworkers, and others, essential for health and well-being.

Kin Selection

A type of altruism where individuals act altruistically towards their relatives to ensure the survival of shared genes.

Reciprocal Altruism

A situation where individuals are more likely to help someone if they expect to benefit from a future interaction with them.

Similarity

The tendency for individuals to be attracted to others who share similar interests, attitudes, and backgrounds; research suggests perceived similarity is a stronger predictor than actual similarity.

Social Exchange Theory

The theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize costs (Total Reward - Total Cost = Profit).

Bystander Effect

The phenomenon in which individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present; probability of help is inversely related to the number of bystanders.

Diffusion of Responsibility

A socio-psychological phenomenon where a person is less likely to take responsibility for action or inaction when others are present, as the felt burden is shared among the group.

Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis

The suggestion that individuals help others because they feel empathy for them, regardless of potential personal gain or loss.

Companionate Love

The deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined, often characterized by equity and self-disclosure.

Passionate Love

An aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, typically present at the beginning of a relationship; often explained by the two-factor theory of emotion.

Avoidant Attachment

A type of insecure attachment where a child shows little distress upon separation and ignores the caregiver upon return; often results from disengaged caregiving.

Ambivalent Attachment

Also known as anxious-resistant attachment; the child is highly distressed upon separation but remains clingy or angry and is not easily comforted upon the caregiver's return.

Instrumental Support

A type of social support that provides tangible, physical aid, such as helping with chores or providing financial assistance.

Informational Support

A type of social support involving the provision of advice, suggestions, or useful information to help someone address a problem.