PSYC 325 - Chapter 9, Part 2

Review Sessions

  • Importance of attending review sessions to consolidate learning.
  • Final exam will resemble midterms; understanding previous questions helps.
  • Expect cumulative content but mainly from later chapters.

Attraction in Close Relationships

Rewards-Based Perspectives

  • Physical attractiveness and similarity increase attraction; seen as rewards.
  • Familiarity and mutual liking enhance our preference for partners.

Evolutionary Theory of Mate Selection

  • Suggests men and women have different mate selection strategies due to reproductive investment.
  • Women:
    • Invest more in offspring; children require significant care.
    • Preference for older, financially stable, ambitious partners.
  • Men:
    • Can father multiple children with less investment.
    • Prefer younger, physically attractive partners, indicating health and fertility.
David Buss's Research
  • Conducted cross-cultural studies on partner preferences.
  • Found men value physical attractiveness more than women do; women prioritize financial prospects and older partners.
  • Supports evolutionary theory's claims on mate choice.

Jealousy and Infidelity

  • Evolutionary theory proposes men are more affected by sexual infidelity while women are more upset by emotional infidelity.
  • Arguments presented that emotional infidelity is a greater threat to relationship security for both genders.

Limitations of Evolutionary Theory

  • Challenges in testing hypotheses across generations.
  • Other models explain findings (e.g., emotional loss and societal norms).

Social Exchange Theory

Principles

  • Relationships viewed as a cost-benefit analysis:
    • Maximize rewards and minimize costs.
    • Satisfaction determined by perceived rewards vs. expectations.
  • Comparison Levels:
    • CL: Expectations of what one should receive in a relationship.
    • CL Alternatives: Evaluation of potential alternatives outside the current relationship.
  • Investment Model: Commitment is influenced by satisfaction and investments in the relationship.

Equity Theory

  • Focus on balance in contributions and benefits between partners.
  • Satisfaction increases in balanced relationships versus imbalanced ones.

Attachment Theory

Overview

  • Developed by John Bowlby, originally for children but extended to adult relationships.
  • Attachment styles:
    • Secure: Positive view of self and others.
    • Anxious: Negative self-view, positive others-view; fear of abandonment.
    • Avoidant: Positive self-view, negative others-view; discomfort with intimacy.
Research Extensions
  • Attachment styles can vary across different relationships; an individual may be securely attached to one person while anxiously attached to another.
  • Experiences can alter attachment styles over time.

Outcomes of Attachment Styles

  • Secure attachment correlates with positive relationship outcomes such as commitment and effective conflict resolution.
  • Insecurely attached individuals may struggle with intimacy and develop maladaptive coping strategies in relationships.

Relationship Issues

Common Problems

  • Unhappiness in relationships linked to mental and physical health issues.
  • Satisfied relationships historically seen as declining due to unrealistic expectations in modern times.

Conflict Management

  • Demand-Withdraw Pattern: Often destructive, leads to unresolved conflicts.
  • Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Negative behaviors leading to relationship dissatisfaction:
    • Criticism: Attacking partner's character.
    • Contempt: Disrespecting and belittling the partner.
    • Defensiveness: Protecting oneself instead of addressing issues.
    • Stonewalling: Withdrawing from the interaction.

Resolution Strategies

  • Foster constructive communication, focusing on feelings rather than accusations to mitigate negative interactions.