Relationships, Love Theories, and Grief: Key Concepts for Year 12 Psychology

What are the situational factors that influence interpersonal attraction?

Proximity and time spent together.

What is the matching hypothesis in the context of relationships?

People tend to form relationships with those who are similar to themselves in physical attractiveness.

What does the term 'similarity' refer to in interpersonal attraction?

It refers to shared attributes such as age, social class, education, values, and attitudes.

What are the three components of Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love?

Intimacy, Passion, and Commitment.

How does intimacy change over time according to Sternberg's theory?

Intimacy rises sharply, peaks, and then gradually declines.

What role does passion play in relationship formation according to Sternberg?

Passion is prevalent in early relationship formation and eventually reaches an equilibrium.

What is the relationship between commitment and relationship success?

Commitment increases with time and is a predictor of successful relationships.

What is 'liking' in the context of Sternberg's theory?

Liking refers to sharing and supporting someone.

Define infatuation according to Sternberg's theory.

Infatuation occurs when you don't know much about the person and aren't committed, but they fulfill some type of need.

What is 'empty love' in Sternberg's model?

Empty love is characterized by commitment without passion or emotional intimacy.

What is 'consummate love'?

Consummate love includes liking, commitment, and sustained passion.

What percentage of marriages or defacto relationships have underlying problems?

50%.

What is the failure rate of long-term relationships?

50%.

What percentage of second marriages tend to fail?

75%.

What percentage of men and women are having affairs at any given point?

25% to 40%.

What should one consider when reflecting on a 'good' relationship?

Qualities such as mutual respect, support, and understanding.

What is companionate love also known as?

Affectionate love.

What is the difference between romantic love and fatuous love?

Romantic love involves mutual understanding and care, while fatuous love is characterized by passion without deep knowledge of each other.

What is infatuation love?

Infatuation love involves passion but lacks deep knowledge about each other.

What factors contribute to relationship quality?

Underlying problems, communication, and mutual respect.

How can one describe the qualities of a 'good' relationship to someone unfamiliar?

By identifying characteristics such as trust, communication, and shared values.

What is a key factor leading to divorce according to the notes?

Communication style.

What happens to communication in relationships that leads to divorce soon after marriage?

Partners control how they express feelings, but communication becomes increasingly hurtful and eventually breaks down.

How does decreased intimacy affect relationships?

It leads to not liking the person and feeling unable to trust them with feelings, resulting in less passion and commitment.

What is a common pattern in couples divorcing after many years of marriage?

There is less communication of feelings and increasing emotional distance, creating a sense of isolation.

What are the negative communication styles identified by the Gottman Institute?

Criticism and Contempt.

How does criticism differ from a complaint?

Criticism attacks the person rather than the action.

What does contempt involve according to the Gottman Institute?

It includes condescension, sarcasm, ridicule, and disgust, often manifesting as mocking or name-calling.

What is the first characteristic of successful relationships according to the Gottman Institute?

Partners understand each other, including likes, dislikes, dreams, ambitions, and some secrets.

What does 'fondness and admiration' mean in the context of successful relationships?

Even in bad times, partners' qualities outweigh their flaws, requiring ongoing cognitive work.

What is the importance of turning to each other in a relationship?

It fosters connection and support rather than avoidance.

What role does problem-solving play in successful relationships?

Successful couples solve problems and do not allow them to turn into perpetual conflicts.

How do successful couples handle fundamental differences?

They accept their differences in beliefs and lives and find ways to live around them.

What is the significance of creating shared meaning in a relationship?

It helps partners build a common purpose and connection.

What therapeutic aspects can help distressed couples stay together according to Sue Johnson?

Recognizing poor dialogue, understanding raw spots, forgiving moments of hurt, and keeping love alive.

What does recognizing poor dialogue involve?

Unpacking negative remarks to understand what partners really want to express.

What are 'raw spots' in the context of relationships?

Moments that touch on deeper emotional issues during rocky times.

What is the outcome of addressing these therapeutic aspects in couples therapy?

75% of distressed couples experience increased relationship satisfaction and happiness.

What do studies indicate about happiness in relationships?

The happiest people are those in very happy or pretty happy relationships.

What is the happiness ranking of single people according to the studies?

Single people who enjoy being single and have no intention of changing their status are the second happiest.

What is the correlation between relationship happiness and longevity?

Those in very or pretty happy relationships have a reduced rate of dying and tend to live longer.

What is the unhappiest group identified in the studies?

People who are single but wish to be part of a couple or who are grieving the loss of a relationship.

What role do satisfying marriages or relationships play in relation to stress?

They act as a buffer against chronic stress factors and provide social support.

What are the three types of grief that should be described and identified?

Complicated grief, disenfranchised grief, and anticipatory grief.

What is grief?

A normal process in response to loss, typically associated with death but also applicable to other losses like friendships or jobs.

What are some symptoms associated with grief?

Emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physical symptoms that vary in intensity and duration.

What is 'typical grief' characterized by?

Exacerbated intensity for 6-10 weeks.

What is complicated grief?

A type of grief with symptoms lasting 6 months or more, including feelings of disbelief and preoccupation with the deceased.

How is complicated grief diagnosed?

It is diagnosed as Prolonged Grief Disorder in the DSM-5-TR.

What is disenfranchised grief?

Grief that is not socially recognized, leading to few mourning procedures and little social support.

What are examples of disenfranchised grief?

Death due to AIDS, suicide of a loved one, perinatal deaths, abortions, and psychological losses.

What is anticipatory grief?

Grief that occurs when a death is expected, allowing survivors some time to prepare.

How can anticipatory grief affect family members?

It may bring relief after a long-term illness or prolong distress for the unwell person and their loved ones.

What is the conceptualization of the stages of grief?

Loss from death or relationship endings is seen as a stage process that is not necessarily sequential.

What are some criticisms of the stages of grief model?

Stages may not occur in order, at the same intensity, or at all.

What can understanding the stages of grief help with?

It can help target strategies for coping with loss.

What is the focus of the exam content mentioned in the notes?

Understanding People and Behaviour, Attachment, Love, Separation and Loss, and related textbook readings.

What study strategies are recommended for exam preparation?

* a quiz, review missed content, and use flashcards or mind maps.

What is the homework assignment for the week?

Study the developmental perception of death, grief, bereavement, mourning, and models of grief.

Who does the University of Canberra acknowledge as traditional custodians of the land?

The Ngunnawal people and other First Nations Peoples.

What is the significance of satisfying relationships according to the notes?

They provide a meaningful role, identity, purpose, and a sense of security.

What are the emotional symptoms of grief?

Feelings of disbelief, yearning for the deceased, and distressful memories.

What is the duration of symptoms in complicated grief?

Symptoms last for 6 months or more.

What can complicate the grieving process for anticipatory grief?

The prolonged distress for the unwell person and their loved ones.

What is the importance of social recognition in grief?

Social recognition can provide support and mourning procedures, which are often lacking in disenfranchised grief.