The Role of Relationships in Well-being and Happiness

Relationships

Interactions between individuals influencing development and well-being.

Flourishing Relationships

Linked to positive health outcomes and longevity.

Dysfunctional Relationships

Sources of stress causing psychological distress and trauma.

Defining a Relationship

Series of interactions encompassing behavioral, cognitive, and affective aspects.

Hind's Definition

Relationships create unique rhythms beyond mere interactions.

Temporal Nature

Relationships require continuity and mutual influence over time.

Dynamic Relationships

Ever-changing entities, not static constructs.

Social Nature of Humans

Humans are inherently social, thriving in communities.

Pyramid Model

Relationships provide support, love, and intrinsic motivation.

Social Needs

Classified into five categories influencing interpersonal connections.

Intimacy Needs

Desire to confide and share thoughts with others.

Companionship Needs

Need for shared activities and spending time together.

Physical Needs

Range from hand-holding to sexual intimacy.

Security Needs

Desire for stability and safety from others.

Emotional Involvement Needs

Capacity to influence each other's emotional experiences.

Closeness in Relationships

Social relationships vary in intimacy and connection.

Close Relationship

Frequent interactions influencing each other's thoughts and actions.

Interdependence

Extent to which partners' lives are intertwined.

Intimate Relationships

Involve self-revealing behaviors and shared understandings.

Components of Intimacy

Knowledge, trust, interdependence, and mutuality define intimacy.

Knowledge in Intimacy

Personal insights gained through mutual self-disclosure.

Trust in Intimacy

Expectation of fair treatment and safety in relationships.

Mutuality in Intimacy

Feeling of overlap creating a shared system.

Responsiveness

Sensitivity to ensure partner feels valued and understood.

Caring

Concern for partner's needs, fostering appreciation and affection.

Commitment

Expectation of relationship continuity through challenges.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Physiological needs at base, self-actualization at top.

Higher Needs Satisfaction

More challenging due to interpersonal and environmental factors.

Social Contact

Regular interaction is a fundamental human need.

Attachment Theory

Emotional connection with primary caregiver critical for survival.

Caregiver Role

Provides safety and security for attachment figures.

Harlow's Studies

Research on primate behavior to understand human attachment.

Comfort in Attachment

Importance of companionship and love over food.

Wire vs. Cloth Mother

Monkeys preferred cloth mother for comfort, not food.

Attachment Deprivation Effects

Lack of caregiver leads to social deficits in monkeys.

Ainsworth's Strange Situation

Standardized procedure to observe child attachment security.

Attachment Styles

Three main styles: secure, avoidant, ambivalent/resistant.

Disorganized Attachment

Fourth attachment style identified later in research.

Conflict Resolution

Attachment style influences later conflict management.

Working Model

Developed from early attachment experiences in adulthood.

Self-Model

Belief in one's worthiness of care from others.

Long-lasting Effects

Early attachment patterns impact future relationships.

Infant Attachment

Critical for survival and healthy emotional development.

Maternal Touch Importance

Tactile comfort is essential for attachment formation.

Social Needs Satisfaction

Crucial for survival, development, and mental health.

Other-model

Belief in others' trustworthiness for care.

Positive experiences

Reinforce feelings of being lovable and loved.

Internal working model

Influences attachment across life stages.

Hazan and Shaver

Developed adult attachment styles based on Ainsworth.

Secure attachment

Comfortable with closeness and dependency in relationships.

Avoidant attachment

Difficulty trusting and depending on others emotionally.

Anxious ambivalent attachment

Worries about partner's love and desires closeness.

Initial Happiness Surge

Marriage often increases happiness temporarily.

Habituation

Happiness levels return to baseline after marriage.

Variability in marriages

Some marriages maintain or increase passion over time.

Unrealistic Expectations

Society portrays marriage as a constant happiness.

Finding vs. Cultivating

Focus on finding partners over nurturing relationships.

The Exotic Becomes Erotic

Novelty can increase arousal with others.

Novelty Factor

Humans notice changes and differences in relationships.

Habituation Challenge

Familiarity can decrease emotional arousal with partners.

Focus on Outcomes vs. Processes

Theories often overlook relationship-building processes.

Key Elements of Flourishing Relationships

Positive emotions, savoring, strengths, and passion.

Broaden-and-Build Theory

Positive emotions expand thought-action repertoires.

Danger Scenario

Fear narrows focus for immediate survival.

Positive Emotion Scenario

Positive feelings enhance perspective and resource development.

Gratitude Example

Inspires kindness and fosters relational connections.

Causal Mechanism

Positive emotions increase relational closeness.

Flexible Thinking

Reduces rigidity in relationship expectations.

Affect Infusion Model

Positive emotions enhance memories and pro-social behavior.

Self-Expansion

Desire to grow one's sense of self.

Self Expansion

Growth through shared experiences in relationships.

Emotional Contagion

Unconscious mimicry of emotions from others.

Novel Activities

Engaging in new experiences to enhance relationships.

Ten-Week Study

Research showing benefits of exciting couple activities.

Chemical Release

Novel experiences trigger chemicals similar to love.

Frequency over Intensity

Frequent small experiences are more beneficial.

Positivity Ratio

Flourishing individuals maintain a 3:1 to 5:1 ratio.

Marital Positivity

Healthy marriages require a 5:1 positivity ratio.

Balanced Approach

Focus on positive aspects while being authentic.

Negativity Bias

Brain's tendency to focus on negative experiences.

Savoring

Attending to enjoyment and positive interactions.

Methods of Savoring

Facilitated by anticipation, presence, and reminiscing.

Capitalizing

Importance of responding to partners' good news.

Dimensions of Response

Responses classified as constructive/destructive and active/passive.

Active Constructive Response

Genuine interest that amplifies shared experiences.

Passive-Destructive Response

Dismisses partner's experiences and feelings.

Communication in Relationships

Shapes quality of intimate relationships significantly.

Communication Styles

Differentiate happy and unhappy couples' interactions.

Happy Couples

Communicate support, affection, and humor.

Unhappy Couples

Display criticism and negative emotions frequently.

Gottman's Four Horsemen

Negative exchanges that predict relationship failure.

Criticism

Attacking partner's character with generalizations.

Contempt

Disrespectful behavior predicting divorce risk.

Defensiveness

Blaming partner instead of accepting responsibility.

Stonewalling

Withdrawing from interaction and shutting down.

Family Resilience

Increased focus on resilience in modern families.

Healthy Families Assessment

Clinical psychologists use absence of psychopathology.

Flourishing Family

Involves more than absence of problems.

Healthy Family Qualities

Dedication, communication, autonomy, and accountability.

Positive Self-Image

A healthy perception of oneself within the family.