RELATIONSHIPS History of relationships research Pre 1960 s

RELATIONSHIPS

History of relationships research � Pre 1960 s � Festinger, Schachter, & Bach, 1950 � 1960 s-70 s � Newcomb, 1961 � Byrne, 1961 � Walster, Aronson, Abrahams, & Rottman, 1966 � Dutton & Aron, 1974 � 1980 s � Love, Investment model � 1990 s � Evolutionary psych � 2000 s � “Real” relationships � People say that physical attraction isn’t that important, but research shows that it is

Predictors of attraction (target) � What factors affect perceptions of physical attractiveness across cultures? � Where are there cultural differences? � Who is it more important for? � Why does attractiveness matter?

Evolutionary psych Parental investment model (Trivers, 1972) � Buss (1989) 37 cultures study � �Eagly & Woods critique �Eastwick et al. critique Sexual strategies theory (Buss & Schmitt, 1993); Strategic pluralism (Gangestad & Simpson, 2000) � What factors have evolutionary theories examined? � What are some critiques of the area? �

Sex differences in mate preferences (Walter et al. , 2020) � What are typical sex differences? � What explanations have been given for these? �Evolutionary approach (Buss et al. , �Biosocial role theory (Eagly & Wood, 1999) �Pathogen prevalence (Gangestad et al. , 2006; also evolutionary, but ecological) �Any other possibilities?

Walter et al. , 2020 � What did they do differently here? � What effects would these potentially have? Critiques? � Results: Fig and Tables � Why might there be variability across cultures?

“Averaged” faces are more symmetrical and attractive � http: //www. faceresearch. org/demos/aver age

What else affects attraction? � Other target or perceiver or situation variables? � What’s the story on similarity vs. complementarity?

Speed dating � https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=4 h. O Kty. QMZe. E

Love (80 s) Rubin’s love scale http: //psychcentral. com/lib/rubins-love-scaleand-rubins-liking-scale/000792 � Companionate vs. passionate love (Berscheid & Walster, 1978)* � Sternberg’s triangular theory (intimacy, passion, commitment)* � Love styles (Henrick & Henrick) � � eros, ludus, storge, mania, agape, pragma � � Sternberg’s love as a theory (scripts) Berscheid (2010) attachment, romantic, companionate, compassionate

Passionate vs. companionate love � Passionate: intense longing with arousal. I would feel deep despair if X left me. My thoughts are often on X. I would rather be with X than anyone else. X always seems to be on my mind. � Companionate love: intimacy and affection. I have confidence in the stability of my relationship with X. I am committed to X. I expect my love for X to last the rest of my life.

Sternberg’s triangular theory

Major theoretical approaches Social exchange theory (Blau, 1964) � Interdependence theory (Thibaut & Kelley, 1959) � Investment model (Rusbult, 1990)* � Equity theory (Walster, & Berscheid, 1978) � Attachment theory (Hazan & Shaver, 1987) � Evolutionary psychology (Buss, Kenrick) � Communal vs. exchange relationships (Clark) �

More recent theories � Motivation-management model of interdependence (Murray & Holmes, 2009) � Equilibrium model of relationship maintenance (Murray, Holmes, Griffin, & Derrick, 2015) � Attachment Security Enhancement Model (Arriaga, Kumashiro, Simpson, & Overall, 2018)

Investment Model (Rusbult) � Predicts 50 -90% of commitment in relationships of all types (dating, marriage, domestic abuse, homosexual, jobs) � Predicts willingness to accommodate � EVLN � How does it differ from equity? From social exchange?

Attachment Bowlby � Ainsworth “Strange Situation” � Secure, Avoidant, Anxious-ambivalent � Hazan & Shaver, 1987 � Avoidance vs. Ambivalence as separate dimensions (Bartholomew) � �Secure �Preoccupied �Fearful avoidant �Dismissive avoidant

Secure I find it relatively easy to get close to others an am comfortable depending on them and having them depend on me. I don’t often worry about being abandoned or about someone getting too close.

Avoidant �I am somewhat uncomfortable being close to others. I feel it difficult to trust them completely, difficult to allow myself to depend on them. I am nervous when anyone gets close and often romantic partners want me to be more intimate than I feel comfortable being.

Anxious/ambivalent �I find that others are reluctant to get as close as I would like. I often worry that my partner doesn’t really love me or won’t stay with me. I want to merge completely with another person, and this desire sometimes scares people away.

More recent measures of attachment � Adult Attachment Interview (George, Kaplan, & Main, 1985) � ECR-R (Fraley, Waller, & Brennan, 2000) � List of measures

Attachment theory (Bowlby, Hazen & Shaver, Feeney, Simpson) Views of others vs. views of self � What is the problem with looking at these categorically? � When does someone become an attachment figure? � What is main point of Attachment theory? � Is it evolutionary? �

ASEM Model (Arriaga, Kumashiro, Simpson, & Overall, 2018) � How stable is attachment, according to this theory? � When and why would it change? What is it affected by? � What are examples of situations that might trigger anxious or avoidant responses?

� How can partners respond to assuage attachment threats in the short and long term? (concrete examples) � Do similar processes operate within other types of relationships?

Commitment insurance system (Cavallo, Murray, & Holmes, 2014) � � Seek connection vs. avoid rejection When threats, can �Withdraw or �Draw partner closer If low SE, try to be more indispensable, but trust less � If high SE, trust and love more � Confidence in partner’s love leads to commitment � Doubt leads to self-protection � How does this relate to attachment theory? �

Motivation-management model of interdependence (Murray & Holmes, 2009) � Three main ways to deal with threats: �Justifying costs �Ensuring mutual dependence �Accommodating in response to hurt � Strategy depends on �Individual variables (low SE, anxious, etc. ) �Dyad variables (trust in partner) �Partner variables (trustworthiness)

Theory comparisons � ASEM and investment model � ASEM and cognitive dissonance � ASEM and evolutionary theory

SES effects on relationships (Karney, 2021) � How should we measure SES for these studies? � How do high and low SES relationships differ? (Table 1) � Why do they differ? �Psychological orientation account �Stress and resources account �Mating strategies account

Gottman research � http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=1 o. B 6 z. Nc. LIH 0 � 4 horsemen of the apocalypse �Contempt �Stonewalling �Defensiveness �Criticism � http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=- f. TAKt. DB 8 f. Y

How to have a good relationship

Manipulations of closeness � Aron, 1997 Melinat, Aron, Vallone, & Bator,

Next week � Evals � Helping chapter � Early and “replication” article on bystander intervention � Positive psychology—happiness and meaning