CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS
Preference for Stores
Individuals tend to prefer large national chain stores (e.g., Starbucks, Walmart, Barnes & Noble) over local regional stores.
Study Reference: Oishi, Miao, Koo, Kisling, & Ratliff (2012).
Residential Mobility and Employment
Higher residential mobility is linked to better employment opportunities.
Those willing to move generally fare better economically than those who remain close to family.
Possible long-term economic implications for families based on attitudes towards mobility, with lower mobility families often remaining poorer.
Study Reference: Alesina, Algan, Cahuc, & Giuliano (2015).
Residential Mobility in the U.S.
Nevada is identified as the state with the highest rate of residential mobility (Figure 11.9).
Characteristics of communities with higher mobility include:
More fair-weather sports fans—attendance at events correlates with team performance.
Higher crime rates and reduced community action.
Study Reference: Oishi et al. (2007), Sampson, Raudenbush, & Earls (1997).
FRIENDSHIPS AND ENEMIES
Importance of Friendship
Friendship is vital for emotional well-being, enjoyment in good times, and comfort in bad times.
Quality of friendships is a predictor of happiness (Csikszentmihalyi & Hunter, 2003).
Close friendships can even lead to increased lifespan (House, Landis, & Umberson, 1988).
Quote from Carnegie (1936): Friendship may be the key to success.
Cautions About Friends
Poem by Kyei & Schreckenbach (1975) highlights the dual nature of friendships, emphasizing potential danger.
Enemies
Definition of an enemy: someone who wishes you harm or attempts to sabotage you.
Statistics from research by Glenn Adams — 26% of Americans reported having enemies, while 71% of Ghanaians did.
Americans tend to view enemies as external (e.g., ethnic prejudice), whereas Ghanaians see them as internal (e.g., neighbors, friends).
Study References: Adams (2005), Adams, Anderson, & Adonu (2004).
Cultural Perspectives on Relationships
In high-mobility contexts, relationships often form based on perceived benefits.
Example: Experiences of an American who avoids non-productive relationships to maintain an enemy-free existence (Adams, 2005).
In low-mobility contexts, people often remain in negative relationships due to obligations (e.g., in-laws), which can foster enemy-like dynamics.
VARIETIES OF FRIENDSHIP
Cultural Influences on Friendship
Friendship exists universally but its nature varies between cultures.
Americans report having more friends than individuals from other cultures (Adams & Plaut, 2003).
Average social network size:
Americans: 20.76
Hong Kong Chinese adults: 13.23
German adults: 12.75
The ease of making friends in America noted by de Tocqueville.
Cultural Attitudes towards Advice
In collectivistic cultures like Turkey or Colombia, unsolicited advice is often proffered, reflecting the values of those societies (Chentsova-Dutton & Vaughn, 2012).
Study shows Russians are more likely to offer unsolicited advice compared to Americans.
Friendship Values
Ghanaians view a large number of friends as potentially foolish; seeing friendship as a vehicle for providing practical support (Adams, 2005).
In contrast, Americans tend to view friendships less in terms of obligations.
SIMPÁTICO AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
Simpático in Latin American Cultures
Describes a relational style emphasizing harmonious relations, hospitality, and congeniality (Sanchez-Burks et al., 2000).
Latin Americans engage more in sociable behaviors compared to European Americans, impacting workplace dynamics.
Observations reveal that Latin Americans tend to spend more time socializing; their interactions are generally warmer and more positive.
ROMANTIC LOVE
Existence and Function of Love
Love is critically analyzed for its universal presence across cultures and its evolutionary function.
Parental love is crucial for child survival in humans due to the long dependency of children.
Romantic love is posited to serve as a binding force for couples in a context where both parents' support is necessary (Fisher, 2004; Frank, 1988).
Review of ethnographies (Jankowiak & Fischer, 1992) indicates 89% of cultures show evidence of romantic love.
Elements of Love
Love comprises three core components as per Sternberg (1986):
Intimacy: Feelings of closeness and connection.
Passion: Physical attraction and sexual desire.
Commitment: The decision to maintain the relationship.
Cultural Variations in Love Elements
Intimacy: Generally expressed more in Western cultures versus East Asian cultures (Gratch et al., 1995).
Passion: Higher levels found among Westerners compared to East Asians; relational mobility influences levels of passionate love.
Commitment: Stronger in Asian cultures versus Western cultures, with implications for divorce rates (Lester, 1995).
MARRIAGE AND CULTURAL VARIATIONS
Historical Phases of Marriage in the U.S.
Early marriage primarily focused on institutional needs (post American Revolution).
Evolved towards companionate marriage focused on emotional support (19th century).
Currently viewed as a vehicle for self-expression and personal fulfillment post-1960s.
Increasingly, couples rely more on each other for emotional needs as friendship networks diminish (Amato et al., 2009).
Arranged versus Love Marriages
Arranged marriages historically prevalent but declining in many cultures.
Research shows varying acceptance of love marriages based on cultural contexts (Broude & Green, 1983).
Attitudes reflect family structures and their influence on marital satisfaction and expectations.
Surprising cultural responses towards arranged marriages in Western contexts highlight differing assumptions about love and marriage.
Statistics show satisfaction rates between arranged and love marriages can be comparable, with some arranged marriages yielding increased love over time (Gupta & Singh, 1982).
Conclusion on Marriages
Cultural context significantly affects views and practices in marriage, leading to varying degrees of success and satisfaction in arranged versus love marriages, with evolving definitions of love and partnership across time and geography.