c5: relationships

evolutionary explanations for partner preferences

sexual selection

sexual selection is an evolutionary explanation of partner preference for attributes or behaviours that increase chance of reproductive success and therefore genes being successfully passed on.

some physical characteristics are signs of genetic fitness

evolutionary explanations for partner preferences

anisogamy

-the difference between male and female gametes. male gametes (sperm) are small, highly mobile and created continuously in vast numbers from puberty to old age, not needing much energy to be produced. in contrast, female gametes (ova) are relatively large, static and produced at intervals for a limited number of fertile years, requiring a significant investment of energy.

consequence of anisogamy is theres no shortage of fertile males but fertile females are a much rarer resource

evolutionary explanations for partner preferences

inter-sexual selection

strategies that males use to select females, or what females use to select males. trivers (1972) suggest women make greater investments of time, commitment and resources before, during and after the birth of her offspring. they stand more to lose if they pick a substandard partner (someone not genetically fit, who cant provide)

fisher (1930) sexy son hypothesis: females mate with males who have desirable physical characteristics (eg height or facial structure), which will be inherited by her son, making him more desirable and likely to mate with the next generations females.

evolutionary explanations for partner preferences

intra-sexual selection

strategies used between males to be the one to mate with a given female. the winner of this ‘competition’ passes their characteristics on to the next generation, where the loser doesnt pass his undesirable characteristics on.

led to human dimorphism; males and females having significant physical differences between them (eg larger males have advantage and higher chance of mating, so trait will pass through generations in ‘the runaway process’, where smaller females are more desirable as they dont need to be large to fight for reproductive rights; led to larger men and smaller women)

also has behavioural consequences: intelligence, deceitfulness and aggression are desirable to outcompete rivals which are favoured and passed on

evolutionary explanations for partner preferences

evaluation: strengths

clark and hatfield (1989) male + female psychology students instructed to go to university campus and say ‘ive noticed you around campus, i find u very attractive. will you go to bed with me tonight?’. 0% of females and 75% of males agreed immediately, supporting idea thst women are choosier than men

evolutionary explanations for partner preferences

evaluation: limitations

factors affecting attraction:

self-disclosure

factors affecting attraction: self-disclosure

social penetration theory

factors affecting attraction: self-disclosure

breadth and depth of self-disclosure

factors affecting attraction: self-disclosure

reciprocity of self-disclosure

factors affecting attraction: self-disclosure

evaluation: strengths

factors affecting attraction: self-disclosure

evaluation: limitations

factors affecting attraction: physical attractiveness

the importance of physical attractiveness

shackleford and larson (1977) found people with symmetrical faces are seen as more attractive as its seen as a more honest sign of genetic fitness (cant fake facial symmetry)

factors affecting attraction: physical attractiveness

the halo effect

-where we attach positive personality traits to attractive features

-physical attractiveness stereotype ‘what is beautiful is good’ (dion et al 1972)

factors affecting attraction: physical attractiveness

research on the matching hypothesis

factors affecting attraction: physical attractiveness

evaluation: strengths

factors affecting attraction: physical attractiveness

evaluation: limitations

factors affecting attraction: filter theory

factors affecting attraction: filter theory

social demography (first level of filter)

factors affecting attraction: filter theory

similarities in attitudes (second level of filter)

factors affecting attraction: filter theory

complementarity (third level of filter)

factors affecting attraction: filter theory

evaluation: strengths

factors affecting attraction: filter theory

evaluation: limitations

theories of romantic relationships: social exchange theory

rewards, costs, and profits

factors affecting attraction: filter theory

comparison level

factors affecting attraction: filter theory

comparison level for alternatives

factors affecting attraction: filter theory

stages of relationship development

factors affecting attraction: filter theory

evaluation: strengths

factors affecting attraction: filter theory

evaluation: limitations

theories of romantic relationships: equity theory

theories of romantic relationships: equity theory

role of equity

theories of romantic relationships: equity theory

equity vs equality

theories of romantic relationships: equity theory

consequences of inequity

theories of romantic relationships: equity theory

evaluation: strengths

theories of romantic relationships: equity theory

evaluation: limitations

theories of romantic relationships: rusbult’s investment model

factors

theories of romantic relationships: rusbult’s investment model

satisfaction vs commitment

theories of romantic relationships: rusbult’s investment model

relationship maintenance mechanisms

theories of romantic relationships: rusbult’s investment model

evaluation: strengths

theories of romantic relationships: rusbult’s investment model

evaluation: limitations

theories of romantic relationships: duck’s phase model of relationship breakdown

theories of romantic relationships: duck’s phase model of relationship breakdown

evaluation: strengths

theories of romantic relationships: duck’s phase model of relationship breakdown

evaluation: limitations

virtual relationships in social media

self-disclosure in virtual relationships

virtual relationships in social media

self-disclosure in virtual relationships

reduced cues theory

virtual relationships in social media

self-disclosure in virtual relationships

the hyperpersonal model

virtual relationships in social media

self-disclosure in virtual relationships

effects of absence of gating in virtual relationships

virtual relationships in social media

evaluation: strengths

virtual relationships in social media

evaluation: limitations

parasocial relationships

levels of parasocial relationships

parasocial relationships

the absorption addiction model

parasocial relationships

attachment theory explanation of parasocial relationships

parasocial relationships

evaluation: strengths

parasocial relationships

evaluation: limitations