Close relationships

initial attraction

propinquity

Festinger, Schachter, Back (1950)

r

62% of friends lived in same building41% next-door neighbours were friends22% living 2-doors away were friends10% opposite end of hall were friends

mere exposure effect

Zajonc

r

More exposure we have to a stimulus, the more we like it

see people a lot, become familiar

Moreland & Beach (1992)

r

female confederates into large classroom

similarity

opinions and personality

Newcomb (1961)

r

Male roommates - initial attraction due to proximity. lasting friendships due to similar attitudes (e.g. same major, liberal political views)

Boyden, Carroll & Maier (1984)

r

Homosexual men sought men with similar personalities to themselves e.g. logical, expressive

Byrne (1971

r

'law of attraction' - attraction increases in line with similarity of attitudes

interests and experiences

situations you choose likely contain similar others

Kubitchek & Hallinan (1998)

r

students choose friends from their academic 'track' i.e. ability

new similarities created by sharing experiences

(strengthening friendships)

why important?

need to be liked

Condon & Crano 1998

need to be validated

feel we are right

character conclusions of others

reciprocity

like those who like us

makes up for absence of similarity

Gold, Ryckman & Mosley (1984)

r

Greater liking for female confederate (eye-contact, listened attentively) despite disagreeing on important issues.

self-fulfilling prophecy

Curtis & Miller (1986)

r

Pairs meeting - either told other person likes them/not. Those who thought they were liked acted in warmer/friendlier way. Those that believed they were liked came to be liked more.

physical attractiveness

Walster et al. 1966

r

Random blind date. determinant of date = physical attractiveness. intelligence, condience, friendliness not relevant.

"What is beautiful is good" stereotype

developing relationships

self-disclosure

revealing intimate facts/feelings

Altman & Taylor, 1973

theory of social penetration

progress from superi#ficial to intimate

broder (more areas of life)

deeper (more important/intimate)

Collins & Miller, 1994

we disclose to those we like

we like those who diclose to us

we like those to whom we have disclosed

greater SD leads to:

Rubin et al. 1980

greater emotional involvement

Hansen & Schuldt, 1984

greater marriage satisfaction

Social exchange theory

economic model of costs-benefits

more satisfying

more rewards

companionship

love

consolation in distress

fewer costs

working to maintain

compromise

giving up opportunities

annoying habits

Homans 1961; Thibaut & Kelly, 1959

pleasing to have attitudes valuated

pleasing to be around someone who likes us

SOCIAL REWARD

Honeymoon period

costs fairly unimportant

Hays 1985

before 3 months

costs not related to satisfaction

Equity theory

Homans 1968

benefits + costs similar for both

inequitable relationships

overbenefitted

GUILTY, UNCOMFORTABLE

underbenefitted

ANGRY, RESENTFUL

criticism

both Ub and Ob shld be moved to restore equity

BUT more serious for underbenefitted

Sprecher & Schwartz 1994

Cate & Lloyd 1998

absolute reward better predictor

satisfaction

endurance

satisfaction

attribution; social comparisons;equity

maladaptive attributions

stable/global problems

low in satisfaction

social comparisons

Bunk, 1990

unhappy couples envious

happy couples see relation as better than others'

equity

those who PERCEIVE equity

most satisfied

intimacy

Reis & Patrick, 1996

3 aspects

caring

understanding

validation

investment/commitment

investment model

comparison level

high CL

expects rewarding relationships

low CL

expects unrewarding relationships

comparison level - ALTERNATIVES

high

Drigotas & Rusbult 1992

less committed to present

low

Simpson 1987

more likely to stay in costly relationship

commitment

high

Van Lange et al. 1997

r

make sacrifices for relationship

Finkel et al. 2002

r

committed individuals forgive betrayals/mistakes

low

Buunk & Bakker, 1997

r

more unprotecte sex outside of relationship

Drigotas et al. 1999

r

more sex outside of relationship

attachment style

Baldwin 1992

affect perceptions/evaluations of current r'ships

happy not nec stable

meet/exceed expectations are more satisfying

Michaels et al 1984