Week 6 lecture part 3

Factors Influencing Interpersonal Attraction

• Interpersonal attraction varies between intimate partners and friendships.

Situational Factors

• Physical Proximity: Closeness affects the likelihood of forming friendships.

  • Study showed students who sat near each other were more likely to become friends.

  • Proximity and familiarity together foster friendships, especially with classmates and coworkers.

• Initial Meeting Conditions: First impressions are crucial.

  • Favorable initial interactions lead to increased friendship likelihood.

  • Negative environments (e.g., a hot, smelly room) can hinder friendship formation.

  • Enjoyable situations (e.g., shared hobbies) encourage friendships.

Similarity

• Importance of Similarity: People gravitate toward those who share traits and values.

  • Similarity in attitudes, abilities, and beliefs promotes relationships.

  • Balance Theory (Fritz Heider): Friends are likely to have similar views on important topics, creating a balanced relationship.

Physical Attractiveness

• Impact of Attractiveness: More attractive individuals are perceived positively and are generally more popular.

  • The Matching Hypothesis: People form relationships with others similar in attractiveness.

  • Similarity extends to age, social class, education, and core values.

Stages of Adolescent Dating (Brown's Model)

• Initiation Phase: Includes crushes and awkward beginnings often marked by false starts.

• Status Phase: Teenage dating focused on peer approval rather than genuine connection.

• Affection Stage: Growth of genuine relationships characterized by intimacy and care.

• Bonding Stage: Greater commitment, where individuals consider long-term relationships.

Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love

• Defines relationships based on three dimensions: intimacy, passion, and commitment.

Dimensions Explained

1. Intimacy: Involves sharing thoughts and support.

2. Passion: Entails physical attraction and sexual fulfillment.

3. Commitment: Involves dedication to a relationship.

Types of Love Based on Dimensions

• Liking: Intimacy without passion or commitment (e.g., workplace friendships).

• Infatuation: Passion without intimacy or commitment (e.g., love at first sight).

• Empty Love: Commitment without passion or intimacy (e.g., arranged marriages).

• Romantic Love: Combination of intimacy and passion (e.g., intimate partnerships).

• Companionate Love: Affectionate bonds seen in long-term relationships without passionate elements.

• Fatuous Love: Passion and commitment without intimacy (e.g., rapid marriages like that of Romeo and Juliet).

Changes in Relationships Over Time

• Intimacy often peaks and then declines; passion levels off over time.

• Commitment remains a strong predictor of long-term relationship success.

• Typical trajectory: initial attraction -> growing liking -> increased commitment -> potential transition to companionate love.

• Relationship patterns can vary widely; no single trajectory fits all experiences.