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.

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