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Relationships - Coggle Diagram
Relationships
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Attraction
Self disclosure
- when a person reveals intimate personal info about themselves to another person
- people tend to prefer those who disclose intimate details to those who disclose themselves to a lesser extent
- people are more likely to disclose personal info to people they like
Research
- makes a distinction between self disclosure given and self disclosure received
- research has typically shown the level of self disclosure received in a romantic relationship was a better predictor of liking and loving than the self disclosure that is given
- Sprecher researcher also found that self disclosure was positively related to relationship stability
- in a study of 50 dating couples, Sprecher found that the amount of overall disclosure in the relationship was predictive of whether the couples stayed together for longer than four years
- Atman found gradual disclosure over time strengthens relationships as it is seen as desirable
Norms of self disclosure
- e.g. there is a norm that people should only engage in only a moderately personal level of self disclosure in the early stages of the relationship
- Derlega and Grzelak suggest that these should be neither so personal that the discloser feels indiscriminate for disclosing them to a relative stranger , nor so impersonal that the listener is unable to know the discloser better as a result
Different types of self disclosure
- research has found that its the type of self disclosure that predicts relationship satisfaction
- Sprecher found that disclosure of e.g. experiences of of personal disappointments and accomplishments and info about previous sexual relationships have a greater influence on relationship satisfaction than more 'neutral' types of self disclosure
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STRENGTHS
- increases attractiveness of personality
WEAKNESSES
- most research doesn't distinguish between friendly and romantic relationships
- unlikely that partner selection is based on disclosure
Filter theory
- Kerckhoff and Davis' filter theory of attraction suggests we chose partners by using a series of filters that narrow down the field of availabilities
- suggests different filters are predominant at different stages of partner selection:
Social demography
- refers to variables such as age, social background and location, which determine the likelihood of individuals meeting in the first place
Similarity in attitudes
- if people share similar attitudes, values and beliefs, communication is easier and so a relationship is likely to develop
Complementarity of needs
- refers to how well two people fit together as a couple and meet each other's needs
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- changes over time
- age is a limiting factor not considered
- research focused on how much someone is liked, or how attractive they are
- culturally biased
Physical attractiveness
- Buss's research on partner preferences in different cultures showed men find physical attractiveness very important when choosing a mate
- research suggests women rely on physical attractiveness when choosing a mate for a short term relationship but it is not as important when choosing someone for a 'serious relationship'
- men are more likely to rely on physical attractiveness in long term relationships
- males - muscularity and symmetry
- females - youth, slimness, fertility
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The Matching hypothesis
- Wastler and Wastler - when initiating a romantic relationship, individuals seek out partners who's social desirability approx. equals to their own
- Over time matching hypothesis has been associated with matching on physical attractiveness alone
- people tend to pair up with people who they deem to be on a similar level of attractiveness to themselves
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- Walster’s theory has been disregarded as only looking at physical attractiveness
- Physical attractiveness in the beginning is the best indicator of people wanting to meet
- You can be attractive in other ways
- Evolution suggests men value physical attractiveness more than women
- Arranged marriages are not based on physical attractiveness
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Virtual relationships
Self disclosure
- higher levels of self disclosure in virtual relationships compared to face to face relationships due to anonymity
- anonymity reduces risk of rejection due to self disclosure
- can share inner thoughts and feelings with much less fear of disapproval
Absence of gating
- gates - barriers that limit opportunities for the less attractive, shy or less socially skilled to form relationships face to face
- due to anonymity barriers to interact are not initially an issue and less likely to stop potential relationships from forming
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