Intimate relationships and marriage exam 3

Three components of Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love

Passion, Intimacy, Commitment

Passion

Physical arousal, desire, excitement, and need; most vulnerable component.

Intimacy

Emotional connection, warmth, support, disclosure, trust.

Commitment

Cognitive decisions; expectations of stability, willingness to work.

Liking

High intimacy; low passion, low commitment.

Infatuation

High passion; low intimacy, low commitment.

Empty Love

High commitment; low passion, low intimacy.

Romantic Love

High intimacy; high passion; low commitment (summer romance).

Companionate Love

High intimacy, high commitment; low passion (older couples).

Fatuous Love

High commitment; high passion; low intimacy (married in Vegas).

Consummate Love

High intimacy; high passion; high commitment (newlyweds).

Compassionate Love

Caring and compassion; distinct from passionate love.

Eros (Love Style)

Intense, passionate, focus on physical appearance.

Ludus (Love Style)

Playful and uncommitted; "don't hate the player, hate the game."

Storge (Love Style)

Friendship-based love; grows slowly out of companionship.

Mania (Love Style)

Demanding, possessive, full of fantasy and obsession.

Pragma (Love Style)

Practical and logical; seeks a compatible match.

Agape (Love Style)

Selfless, giving, altruistic; treats love as a duty.

Historical views of love/marriage

Low expectation of romance; high importance of family union and practical partnership.

Types of marriage formation

Love marriage, arranged marriage, assisted marriage.

New take on arranged marriage

Singles matched by experts based on personality, values, compatibility.

Triangular Theory in arranged marriage

Depends on levels of commitment, passion, and intimacy; lasting outcomes vary.

Two-Factor Model of Love

Arousal (physiological response) + Thought (interpretation); many contexts can be arousing.

Arousal in love

Function/timing of hormones; physical response contributes to attraction.

Fantasy in romantic love

Positive illusions and idealization fade over time.

Novelty and self-expansion

Excitement from new experiences fosters love; loss of novelty can reduce passion.

Fading of romantic love

Passion decreases naturally, but effort and novelty can maintain it.

Romantic vs Companionate Love outcomes

Romantic = excitement; Companionate = stability and satisfaction.

Abstinence-only sex education

Teaches abstinence as the only moral option; least effective.

Comprehensive sex education

Teaches safety, contraception, and communication; most effective.

Abstinence-plus sex education

Emphasizes abstinence but includes some contraception information.

Attitudes toward premarital sex

Less than 25% say it's always wrong; nearly all adults have sex before marriage.

Permissiveness with affection

Sex is acceptable if within a committed, emotionally supportive relationship.

Attitudes about hookups

Men more approving, women report more regret; context matters.

Gender differences in casual sex

Men: more permissive and positive after hookups. Women: less permissive, more regret.

U.S. attitudes over time

31% say same-sex relationships are "morally wrong"; 63% say "morally acceptable."

U.S. vs other cultures

US is less conservative over time but more conservative than other countries.

Sexual double standard

Men are judged more leniently for sexual activity than women.

Attitudes about same-sex sexuality

Acceptance higher among younger adults; belief in biological origin linked to greater acceptance.

Kinsey's continuum of sexual orientation

Describes orientation as a continuum from exclusive heterosexuality to exclusive homosexuality.

Sociosexual orientation

Beliefs or behaviors that describe our feelings about uncommitted sex (restricted vs unrestricted)

Frequency of sex

Varies by relationship type, duration, and orientation; decreases with time.

Four reasons for having sex

Emotional, Physical, Pragmatic (e.g., procreation, goal), Insecure.

Extradyadic sex

Sex outside the primary relationship; more common among men.

Consensual non-monogamy

Agreed-upon multiple partners; relationship quality varies.

Factors increasing unsafe sex

Underestimating risk, invulnerability illusion, poor communication, power imbalance, abstinence-only education.

Self-Determination Theory and sex

Autonomy (choice), Competence (confidence), Relatedness (closeness) increase satisfaction.

Sexual growth vs destiny beliefs

Growth beliefs (effort improves sex) → higher satisfaction; destiny beliefs (meant to be) → lower satisfaction.

Frequency vs satisfaction

Quality matters more than quantity.

Sexual communication

Discuss history, protection, desires; direct talk = higher satisfaction.

Sexual consent

Must be enthusiastic, informed, and ongoing; can be revoked anytime.

Forms of sexual coercion

Verbal, emotional, or physical pressure to engage in sex.

Definition of conflict

Incompatible goals, motives, or behaviors; inevitable in relationships.

Dialectics

Opposing motivations that create tension and reduce satisfaction.

Four primary dialectics

Connection vs autonomy, openness vs closedness, stability vs change, integration vs separation.

Predictors of high conflict

Personality (negative emotion, low agreeableness), attachment insecurity, life stage, stress, sleep, alcohol use.

Instigating events

Criticism, illegitimate demands, rebuffs, cumulative annoyances.

Attributional conflict

Disagreement about causes of behavior due to biases (actor-observer, self-serving).

Demand-withdraw pattern

One partner demands, the other withdraws; often women demand, men withdraw.

Conflict escalation

Direct (criticism, commands) vs Indirect (sarcasm, avoidance); negative affect reciprocity fuels escalation.

Attachment and conflict

Secure individuals stay calmer and more collaborative during conflict.

Rusbult's exit-voice-neglect-loyalty model (DACP)

Destructive, Active, Constructive, Passive (+)

Couple conflict styles

Volatile, Validators, Avoiders, Hostiles (fail 5:1 positive ratio).

Five endings of conflict (DICSS)

Structural improvement (beneficial), Integrative agreement (beneficial), Domination (destructive), Compromise (mixed), Separation (destructive).

Constructive conflict strategies

Address issues directly, use soft startups, take responsibility, manage anger, perspective taking.

Maximal inclusion

Others go out of their way to include us.

Active inclusion

Others welcome us but don't go out of their way.

Passive inclusion

Others allow us to be included but don't seek us out.

Passive exclusion

Others ignore us but don't avoid us.

Active exclusion

Others avoid us unless necessary.

Maximal exclusion

Others banish or abandon us completely.

Perceived relational value

Extent to which we feel liked and valued by others.

Relational devaluation

When someone's perceived value of us drops, causing emotional pain.

Dysphoric affect

negative emotional states, melancholy, disappointment