Attraction, Personality, and Mate Selection

Fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on attraction, personality traits, similarity, reciprocity, and mate selection.

The starting point of most relationships is __.

attraction

Relationship research on personality focuses on how specific __ influence relationship quality, rather than on partner similarity.

personality traits

The Big Five personality model emerged from __ analysis of many descriptive adjectives.

factor

The five traits are Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Openness, and __.

Extraversion

__ describes being reliable, disciplined, and organized.

Conscientiousness

Agreeableness is marked by generosity and trust, whereas __ involves a tendency toward anxiety and emotional instability.

Neuroticism

Twin studies suggest about _ % of the variance in personality is genetic.

50

Life experiences explain roughly _ % of personality variance.

40

Parenting contributes about _ % to personality differences.

10

High __ is the strongest personality predictor of relationship dissatisfaction and divorce.

neuroticism

People high in __ value relationships, show empathy, and handle conflict constructively.

agreeableness

High __ partners were most likely to keep their promises in the "promise study."

conscientiousness

Greater geographic closeness boosts attraction, a phenomenon called the __ (or propinquity) effect.

proximity

The __ effect states that repeated exposure to a stimulus increases liking for it.

mere exposure

According to the __ hypothesis, partners tend to match in physical attractiveness.

matching

The stereotype that "what is __ is good" assumes attractive people possess better traits.

beautiful

We are especially drawn to people who like us but not everyone else, a pattern known as __ reciprocity.

selective

Attraction = Physical Attractiveness × __ of being liked.

Probability

Evaluating someone next to a very attractive person can lower their perceived appeal, illustrating the __ effect.

contrast

Misattributed physiological arousal shows that __ factors (e.g., fear, setting) can heighten attraction.

environmental / arousal

During initial attraction, perceived similarity often matters more than __ similarity.

actual

Complementarity aids relationships mainly in __ behaviors, not core values.

day-to-day / behavioral

Research shows __, not "opposites," is the most reliable predictor of attraction.

similarity

In speed-dating, participants’ real choices frequently fail to match their stated mate __.

preferences

Attraction to someone who fits an ideal checklist but lacks chemistry is called the __ phenomenon.

good-on-paper

Identical twins do not marry more similar spouses than fraternal twins, implying that personal __ do not strictly direct mate choice.

ideals / preferences

Subtle non-verbal initiation cues often displayed by women (smiles, glances) are termed __.

proceptivity

Men tend to __ women’s sexual interest, whereas women tend to underestimate men’s.

overestimate

Playing hard to get boosts desirability primarily when it signals __ toward one specific person.

exclusivity

Having many online dating options can create the __ of choice, making people pickier.

paradox

Experts suggest meeting __ rather than extended texting to avoid unrealistic expectations online.

face-to-face

Reciprocal liking can create a __ prophecy: our warmer behavior makes the other person like us more.

self-fulfilling

Similarity in __ and values is crucial for long-term compatibility.

attitudes

Dissimilarity generally predicts lower commitment and more __ over time.

conflict

Agreeable partners tend to resolve disputes by offering a sincere __ instead of becoming defensive.

apology