Attraction and Relationships (04)

Vocabulary flashcards covering all major theories, studies, and concepts from the PYB202 Week 4 lecture on attraction and close relationships.

Need to Belong (Baumeister & Leary, 1995)

The idea that humans have and require a strong basic need to form and maintain close relationships with others. People feel happy when they feel accepted and distressed when they are rejected.

Proximity Effect

Being physically close to someone increases attention due to frequent interactions, we tend to form relationships with those around us due to increased contact and mere exposure.

Functional Distance

The likelihood of crossing paths due to architectural layout (e.g., near stairs/mailboxes), not just physical distance.

Mere Exposure Effect

Repeated exposure to a stimulus increases liking for it, even without conscious recognition, because of perceptual fluency and safety learning.

Similarity-Attraction Hypothesis

People are drawn to others who share their demographics, attitudes, personality traits, and values.

Two-Stage Attraction Model (Byrne, 1986)

1. We first avoid dissimilar others

2. Then, among the remaining similar people, we gravitate toward the most similar.

Reasons Similarity Breeds Liking

Provides social validation, allows favourable attributions, and leads us to expect reciprocal liking.

Reciprocal Liking

We like people who (we believe) like us; mutual positive regard fosters attraction. (Positive feedback)

Playing Hard to Get

Moderate selectivity increases attractiveness; extremes (too easy or too difficult) decrease it. (Has to be JUST RIGHT)

Self-Verification in Attraction

People with low self-esteem may prefer partners who confirm their negative self-views, overriding reciprocal liking.

(This is due to being accepted as thier true self)

Physical Attractiveness Matching

Individuals tend to pair with partners of similar leagues despite universally preferring highly attractive people.

What-Is-Beautiful-Is-Good Stereotype

The assumption that attractive people possess other desirable qualities, such as sociability or competence.

Symmetry in Faces

Bilateral facial symmetry is perceived as attractive and may signal developmental health.

Waist-to-Hip Ratio (0.7)

Body shape in women associated with fertility and commonly judged attractive.

Composite Faces (Langlois & Roggman, 1990)

Averaged faces are rated more attractive than individual component faces due to familiarity and prototypicality.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of Attractiveness

Snyder, Tanke, & Berscheid (1977) showed men acted warmer toward women they thought were attractive, causing women to behave more warmly.

Passionate Love

Intense longing and physiological arousal directed toward a partner (Hatfield, 1988).

Companionate Love

Affectionate, intimate connection characterised by warmth and stability rather than high arousal.

Triangular Theory of Love (Sternberg, 1988)

Love consists of three components:

Passion

Intimacy

Commitment

Social Exchange Theory

We stay in relationships where rewards outweigh the costs

Self-Disclosure

Progressive sharing of personal information that builds intimacy; women and conversations with women elicit more disclosure.

Misattribution of Arousal

When one mistakenly attributes their arousal to attraction when in reality it is because of excitement or fear.

Dutton & Aron’s suspension bridge study

Investment Model (Rusbult, 1983)

Explains why people stay in relationships even when unsatisfied due to how much they invested in the relationship. Commitment, time, etc.

Equity Theory

People feel happiest when their ratio of rewards to contributions equals their partner’s ratio.

Exchange Relationships

Interactions among strangers or acquaintances involving strict reciprocity and tracking contributions.

Communal Relationships

Close relationships in which partners respond to each other’s needs without keeping score.