1. Chapter 7 Love, attraction, relationships, and communication

2. What Is Love? Difficult to define
special attitude with behavioral and emotional components
different things to different people
difficult to measure

3. What Is Love? (cont.) Zick Rubin's "love scale”(13 item questionnaire)
Has 3 components
Attachment: The need to be cared for and be with the other person.
Caring: Valuing the other persons happiness and needs as much as your own
Intimacy: Sharing private thoughts, feelings, and desires with the other person.

4. Rubin’s Love Scale
Subjects are asked to answer the following questions concerning their attitudes towards the loved one.
If [loved one] were feeling badly, my first duty would be to cheer him/her up.
I feel that I can confide in [loved one] about virtually everything.
I find it easy to ignore [loved one]’s faults.
I would do almost anything for [loved one].
I feel very possessive toward [loved one].
If I could never be with [loved one], I would feel miserable.
If I were lonely, my first thought would be to seek [loved one] out.
One of my primary concerns is [loved one]’s welfare.
I would forgive [loved one] for practically anything.
I feel responsible for [loved one]’s well being.
When I am with [loved one], I spend a good deal of time just looking at him/her.
I would greatly enjoy being confided in by [loved one].
It would be hard for me to get along without [loved one].

5. Types of Love Passionate love (a.k.a. romantic love or infatuation)
extreme absorption with and desire for one another.
intense psychological feelings
Little logic and reasoned consideration
generalized physiological arousal, strong sexual desire
Increased heartbeat, sweating, blushing, stomach butterflies, etc.
avoid conflict, overlook faults
feelings of completeness
short-lived; usually occurs early in a relationship.

6. Types of Love Companionate love less intense
friendly affection & deep attachment
extreme familiarity
Reflected in sexual relationship; partners feel comfortable discussing what pleases one another and share familiarity and sexual trust.
tolerance for short-comings
desire to overcome difficulties and work through conflicts
more enduring than passionate love

7. Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love
Love has three faces:
Passion: motivational component
Fuels romantic feelings, sexual desire, attraction.
Intimacy: emotional component
Feeling of being bonded with other person; warmth, sharing private thoughts, emotional closeness.
Commitment: thinking/cognitive component
Conscious decision to love another and work through difficulties.
Various combinations of the three components of love make up the different kinds of love.
See triangle

8. Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love
All 3 components are important dimensions of a loving relationship
The 3 components exist in different patterns and to varying degrees
Different combinations produce different types of love.
Can also change over time.

9. Sternberg’s theories, (cont.)
Passion component of love peaks early in a relationship, and then declines.
Intimacy and commitment components build gradually over time.
Conceptual basis for transition from passionate to companionate love.
Growth in intimacy & commitment occurs as passion grows weaker
Can sustain a relationship as difficulties arise once passion fades

10. Lee’s Styles of Loving
Romantic (eros): a passionate physical love based on physical appearance and beauty
Game-playing (ludus): love is played as a game; love is playful; often involves little or no commitment and thrives on “conquests”
Possessive (mania): highly emotional love; unstable; the stereotype of romantic love; its characteristics include jealousy and conflict.
Companionate (storge): an affectionate love that slowly develops, based on similarity and friendship.
Altruistic (agape): selfless altruistic love; spiritual
Pragmatic (pragma): inclination to select a partner based on practical and rational criteria where both will benefit from the partnership

11. Discussion question
PART 1: How would you define love? Consider how love is different from “like.” Also, consider how love is different from lust.
PART 2: Is sex better when the sexual partners are in love? Why or why not?

12. The brain chemistry of falling in love
Neurotransmitters
 norepinephrine
 dopamine
 phenylethylamine (PEA)
 oxytocin
 Endorphins
Morphine-like, soothing substances help produce sense of euphoria, security, and peace
Can cause us to feel good when with someone we love.
Loss and neurotransmitter withdrawal
These brain chemicals are similar to drugs:
Brain can develop chemical tolerance, causing the high felt at the beginning of a relationship to diminish.
Withdrawal from neurotransmitters can cause feelings of anxiety, despair, and pain, like withdrawal from a drug.
5 brain chemicals triggered when falling in love

13. Why do we fall in love with one person and not another?
Proximity
Similarity
Reciprocity
Physical attractiveness
What common notion about attraction is missing from this list?

14. Why do we fall in love with one person and not another?
Proximity (geographic nearness)
mere exposure effect (familiarity increases liking)
with repeated exposure to novel stimuli (unfamiliar music, art, faces, etc.) our liking for the stimuli increases
familiarity breeds predictability  greater comfort
greater proximity often reflects shared interests

15. Why do we fall in love with one person and not another?
Similarity
Beliefs, values, attitudes, interests, intellect
level of physical attractiveness (fear of rejection?)
age, educational status and religion
race and ethnicity
Why?
share similar interests & activities
communicate better
confirm own views & experiences
supportive of values & beliefs

16. Homophily = similarity in personal characteristics

17. Why do we fall in love with one person and not another?
Reciprocity
The principle that when we are recipients of expressions of liking or loving, we tend to respond similarly.
when someone shows that they like us, we tend to like them back.
The cycle of self-esteem
If we feel positively about ourselves, we are more likely to feel that others also think positively of us--we tend to act more warmly to people we think feel positively toward us, which then often induces them to like us more.
increases likelihood of relationship enduring
If it’s all “one-way giving” of compliments, expressions of affection/love, relationship isn’t likely to last.

18. Why do we fall in love with one person and not another?
Physical attractiveness
"what's beautiful is good" belief:
people perceive attractive people as more likeable, interesting, sensitive, happy, sexy, competent, and socially skilled.
Having been treated better by others most of their lives, attractive people may in fact be more comfortable w/themselves.
status by association
most important in early stages
As we come to know someone better, their “inner” beauty (or ugliness) often becomes apparent.
may be an indicator of physical health
All things being equal, people are attracted to healthy people.
heterosexual males place greater value
Appears to be true across many cultures.

19. Why do we fall in love with one person and not another?
Sociobiology- behavior explained by evolutionary needs (Buss)
men attracted to young attractive females to maximize reproductive success
women attracted to older, established men to maximize reproductive success (security for offspring)
Youth and physical attractiveness are, in theory, less important to females, because male fertility is less related to age than it is for females.

20. Sex differences in mate selection
Women more willing than men to marry someone:
• better educated
• older
• would earn more
• was not good-looking
Women less willing than men to marry someone:
• w/less education
• younger
• not likely to hold steady job
• would earn less
NOTE: looking at graph, can see that these differences are not all that large

21. Love and styles of attachment
Attachment: intense emotional tie between two individuals, such as infant and parent, or adult lovers.
It is possible to experience attachment w/o love, but love w/o attachment is unlikely
There has been much psychological research on how we form attachments and the effects of different styles of attachment.

22. Mary Ainsworth’s research using infants and the “strange situation”
1-year-old infants enter room with parent, then a stranger enters and begins to play with the infant; then the parent leaves.
3 types of attachment revealed from this research:
Secure attachment
Parent is “safe base” from which to explore
Infant appeared to feel safe when parent left and confident that she would return.
Anxious-ambivalent attachment (insecure)
Hesitant to leave parent’s side to explore or interact w/stranger
Extreme anxiety when parent left; ambivalent/resentful toward parent upon return.
Avoidant attachment (insecure)
Avoid parent; little interaction w/parent or stranger

23. What accounts for differences in attachment styles?
Combination of: 1) inborn differences among infants and 2) parenting practices.
Secure infants: more likely to have parents who were sensitive and responsive to their needs.
Fed infants when they were hungry (i.e. not on a set schedule)
Cuddled their babies at times other than during feeding or changing.
Insecurely attached infants: more likely to have parents who were less sensitive, less responsive, and inconsistent in their reactions to their babies.
Fed infants on a set schedule or when it was convenient for parents
Sometimes ignored babies’ cries of hunger
Avoided phyical contact with their babies

24. Adult intimate relationships and attachment styles
Which statement best fits your attachment style?
A) I find it relatively easy to get close to other people.  I am comfortable depending on other people and having them depend on me.  I don't usually worry about being abandoned or about having someone get too close to me.
B) I find it difficult to trust people completely.  I am somewhat uncomfortable being close to others.  I feel nervous when people start to get too close.  Often, I feel like people want me to be more intimate than I feel comfortable being.  I find it difficult to allow myself to depend on other people.
C) I find that other people are reluctant to get as close as I would like.  I often worry that someone I am close to doesn't really love me or won't want to stay with me.  I want to merge completely with another person, and this sometimes scares people away.

25. Adult intimate relationships and attachment styles
Which statement best fits your attachment style?
A) I find it relatively easy to get close to other people.  I am comfortable depending on other people and having them depend on me.  I don't usually worry about being abandoned or about having someone get too close to me.
B) I find it difficult to trust people completely.  I am somewhat uncomfortable being close to others.  I feel nervous when people start to get too close.  Often, I feel like people want me to be more intimate than I feel comfortable being.  I find it difficult to allow myself to depend on other people.
C) I find that other people are reluctant to get as close as I would like.  I often worry that someone I am close to doesn't really love me or won't want to stay with me.  I want to merge completely with another person, and this sometimes scares people away.
SECURE
AVOIDANT
ANXIOUS/AMBIVALENT

26. Adult intimate relationships and attachment styles
Impact of attachment styles on intimate relationships:
(56% of adults
surveyed)
(19% of adults
surveyed)
(25% of adults
surveyed)

27. Issues in Loving Relationships
Relationship between love & sex
several possibilities
Love w/o sex; sex w/o love
questions to ask
does sexual intimacy deepen a love relationship?
do men & women have different views of sex & love?
More women than men seem to believe that love is a necessary component of a sexual relationship
Easier for men than women to have sex for pleasure w/o an emotional commitment
These differences seem to diminish with age.
Possibly b/c older women are less susceptible to negative stereotypes of women who have sex for pleasure?

28. Issues in Loving Relationships (cont.)
Sexual orientation and views of sex & love:
Stereotype among heterosexuals that gay men and lesbians have encounters that are primarily based on sexual interaction w/o genuine attachment, love, commitment, and overall satisfaction.
Reflected in quote from textbook authors’ files:
“I would not consider myself to be biased against homosexuals. However, I do feel some disapproval of the gay lifestyle, which often seems to involve casual affairs based more on sex than genuine caring.”
Reflected in quote from anti-gay (religious) web site:
“The average homosexual relationship can be characterized as highly unstable and promiscuous”

29. Issues in Loving Relationships (cont.)
Sexual orientation and views of sex & love:
homosexual men more likely to separate love from sex; lesbians more likely to postpone sex until intimacy has been established
Pattern reflects overall sex differences in views of sex and love.
Likely to arise from patterns of gender-role socialization that give more permission for casual sex for males than for females.
The fact that some gay men engage in casual sexual encounters w/o love does not mean that gay men don’t value love; it simply indicates that some gay men value sex as an end to itself.
Heterosexual men visit brothels. Prostitution is a thriving industry.
falling in love with a same sex person often helps in gay or lesbian identity
Many heterosexually oriented people have had same-sex sexual encounters that do not establish an identity as a homosexually oriented person; rather, it is falling in love w/a same-sex person that contributes to the development of a homosexual identity.

30. Jealousy
Jealousy: an aversive emotional reaction evoked by real or imagined relationship between one’s partner and another person.
Many people have ambivalent feelings about jealousy and simultaneously consider it a sign of insecurity as well as a sign of love/devotion.
People w/low self-esteem are more prone to jealousy.
Negative consequences
precipitates partner violence
stifles relationship development
raises anxiety, depression, anger
Sex differences
Women: more likely to be jealous of attractiveness or popularity; Men: more likely to be jealous of wealth and fame
Women are more likely to acknowledge jealous feelings and men are more likely to deny them.

31. What qualities do you think are present in an unhealthy relationship?
Discussion question:
In your opinion, what are the key ingredients in a healthy relationship?
What qualities do you think are present in an unhealthy relationship?

32. Maintaining Relationship Satisfaction
Characteristics of high-quality love relationships
self-acceptance
appreciation of each other's qualities
maintaining frequent positive interaction
commitment
good & supportive communication
realistic expectations
shared interests
ability to face & deal with conflict
Supportive communication
Companionship, seeing partner as best friend
Sexual expression and variety

33. Maintaining Relationship Satisfaction
Individual and relationship growth
growth and change maintain relationship
overcome obstacles
view problems as challenges
negotiate and renegotiate wants
accept each other as unique

34. Maintaining Relationship Satisfaction
Sexual Variety
communication is critical
be spontaneous
plan for intimate time
don't worry about frequency "standards"

35. The Importance of Communication
Good communication is a valuable asset in developing a satisfying, enduring sexual relationship
Key = mutual empathy
The underlying knowledge that each partner in a relationship cares for the other and knows that the care is reciprocated.

36. Why sexual communication can be difficult
Socialization
messages that increase shame & discomfort regarding sexuality
lack of communication in the home
lack of positive role models

37. Why sexual communication can be difficult
Language can be an obstacle
Limited vocabulary
How we talked about sex as kids
Two extremes of sexual language
Embarrassment

38. Talking: Getting Started (not just for the beginning of a relationship, though)
Talk about talking
Why is it hard to talk; is it hard for both partners? What might make it easier to talk about sex?
Use the news & current events
Talking about a news story, or (maybe something that you learned in this class!) can be a less personal, less threatening way of starting a conversation about sex.
Read & discuss:
the written word may be easier, less threatening
Books, articles, etc.; fun web site:
Share sexual histories
Ask questions; could be about sexual experiences, or about sex education in your partner’s upbringing

39. Listening and Feedback
Active listening
Actively communicating that you are both listening to and interested in what your partner is saying.
Includes attentive body language & facial expressions, asking questions, commenting, encouraging partner to continue, etc.
Maintain eye contact
Provide feedback
Verbal reaction to message; ensures you have interpreted message correctly, lets your partner know how you feel in response.

40. Listening and Feedback
Support communication efforts
“I’m glad you told me how you really feel.” “Thanks for caring enough to tell me what is on your mind.”
Unconditional positive regard
Conveying to partner that you will still value and care for him/her regardless of what s/he says.
Paraphrasing
Listener summarizes the speaker’s message in his or her own words.
Several attempts to paraphrase correctly may be necessary.

41. Discovering Your Partner's Needs
Asking questions is very important--some ways of asking questions are more effective than others.
Yes/no questions least informative
Either/or questions: some structure, slightly more informative
open-ended questions: least structured, most informative b/c there are no restrictions on possible answers.

42. Discovering Your Partner's Needs (cont.)
Self-disclosure
disclosure elicits disclosure
sharing of sexual fantasies can be exciting and informative
increases sexual satisfaction
start with small disclosures & build
be prepared to back off
normative male alexithymia

43. Learning to Make Requests
Take responsibility for your own pleasure
Many people blame a partner if a sexual experience is unsatisfying rather than admit that they are reluctant to express their desires/needs.
Myth that has been propagated in movies, etc: “When two people are really in harmony with each other, you don’t have to talk about your sexual wants. You sense and respond to the other’s desires. Talking just spoils the magic.”
Make specific requests
EX: instead of saying, “I’d like you to try touching me differently,” say “I would like you to touch me gently around my clitoris but not directly on it.”
Use "I" language not “You”

44. Expressing Complaints
Be aware of your motivation
Choose the right time & place
Temper criticism with genuine praise
Nurture small steps toward change
Avoid "why" questions
EX: “Why don’t you ever initiate sex?”
disguised effort to attack the other person . . .
Express negative emotions appropriately
Limit to one criticism at a time

45. Receiving Complaints Empathize & paraphrase
Paraphrase--to restate the complaint in your own words
Partner knows s/he is understood
You know you understand correctly
Acknowledge the basis for criticism
Ask clarifying questions
Express your feelings about the complaint
use “I” language
Focus on changes that can be made

46. Gottman’s constructive communication
Leveling and editing
Leveling: stating thoughts and feelings clearly, simply, and honestly with “I” language.
Editing: avoid saying things that would be deliberately hurtful or irrelevant to the issue at hand.
Validating
Acknowledging the reasonableness of our partner’s concern
Volatile dialogue
Couples who never argue might be ignoring important issues, causing resentment and frustration to build.

47. Gottman’s destructive communication
Criticism
Different from complaining; criticism is destructive, involves expression of contempt
Presents a problem by attacking other person’s character.
Contempt
worse than criticism; involves name-calling, insults, sarcasm
Defensiveness
Denial of responsibility; constructing a defense rather than trying to discuss and resolve a problem.
Stonewalling
Refusal to engage and provide feedback (silence, walking out of the room, turning on the TV, etc.)
Belligerence
Confrontational, “in-your-face” type interaction

48. Impasses Talking may not solve every problem Additional steps to take
agree to disagree
take a break from each other, with an agreement to re-address the issue
grant each other their own beliefs
consider counseling