Attraction and Love

Attraction and Relationship Formation

Major Influences:

1. Proximity: How physically close you are will influence relationship formation

   1. Sitting next to someone in class will more be friends with them

2. Similarity: We tend to be friends or date someone who is similar to us

3. Reciprocity: We expect in our relationships to be equity and fairness (Liking someone and them liking us too)

4. Level of physical attraction

   1. Heterosexual males place more emphasis on looks and younger mates

Theories

1. Evolutionary Theory: Parental investment

   • Males have a lower parental investment (males can spread millions of sperm vs females having one egg a month)

   • Females have to be more pickier about who they have sex with

2. Social Role Theory: Men who don’t bare children are more likely to have more opportunities to pursue high-status positions.

3. Gender Roles: Accepted attitudes and behaviour for males and females in society

   1. More acceptable for men to have more sexual partners

Physical Attraction

“Just Average Experiment”

• The more average a face is, the more highly rated it is as attractive

Why?

Evolutionary Theory: Average faces may indicate lack of genetic mutations or diseases

We also prefer averageness in lots of stimuli

What does love consist of?

Hatfield And Rapson’s Theory:

1. Passionate Love: Love marked by powerful, overhwleming, and longing for ones partner

2. Compassionate Love: Love marked by a sense of deep friendship and fondness for ones partner

Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love: There are three components of love

1. Intimacy

2. Commitment

3. Passion

Consummate Love: The right and perfect balance of love