Friendships and Romantic Relationships

Who is Victor the boy of Aveyron?

A feral child studied - suffers from social deficits. Assumption that isolation leads to ill-adjustment. BUT, correlation doesn't always lead to causation. He had social problems before the study.

What other studies allow for casual inferences?

Harlow (1959) tested rhesus monkeys. He found that monkeys seperated at birth had behavioural problems = agressive and inappropriate

What 5 factors does Baumeister & Learys (1995) 'The Fundamental Need to Belong' suggest

1. There is an evoloutionary bias for needing relationships

2. It is universal.

3. It is satiable.

4. It guides social cognition.

5. Profound negative consequences if need not met.

What does Stroebe add to theory of relationships?

He adds emotional, evaluation, informational and instrumental aspects.

What is Hills (1957) 'Reasons for Affiliating'

1. It reduces uncertanity through comparison.

2. It is positively stimulating.

3. Adds emotional support.

4. Creates the ability to obtain information.

What can low/no social support do?

Can lead to death. For example, high mortality rates in single people. And high mortality rates in divorcees - worse for men in straight relationships.

Study to support this low social support?

Schachter (1959) 'Seeking social support for anxiety'

Electric shock study - anxious people more likely want to wait with people before shocks.

What are factors that increase interpersonal relationships

1. Recipricol liking.

2. Similarity

3. Physical attractiveness.

Proximity Exposure

Evidence for physical attractiveness leading to better judgement from others?

• You are assumed to work better.

• Lower sentencing in courts.

• The effects are more pronounced in women = halo effect.

What is the matching hypothesis (Goffman 52 & Forgas 93)

Seek people with similar attractiveness levels as you. Relationship aspiration = desire for goal and percieved success rate. Attraction level between friends and partners seem to match - Forgas

What is Clarks and Mills theory about different types of relationships (1993)

Exchange and communal relationships. Exchange = no responsibility and equity. Communal = mutual responsibility and need a principle