1. Biological level of analysis
Origin of attraction
Biological level of analysis

2. Biological level of analysis
Animals and humans share a lot of similar behaviour when attracted to each other
Evolutionary theories argue that the purpose is to procreate – pass on ones genes!
In the animal kingdom it is common that the males fight
over the females

3. The Nature of Human relationships (our emotion of being in love)
The result of a biomedical cocktail
according to Fischer (2004) who argues that the symptoms exhibited in human romantic passion indicate that dopamine, adrenaline, and serotonin all play an important role.
Fischer argues that love is not an emotion, but a motivation system – designed to enable us to mate (much like other animals)

4. The love cocktail
Adrenaline: makes your heart race, your palms become sweaty… (stress hormone) high energy, less need of sleep and food and more focused attention on the potential mate
Serotonin: a neurotransmitter that may be involved in love – not possible to document the exact role in romantic love though
Fischer et al 2003 – used fMRI to investigate the blood flow in 20 men and women to compare brain activity and it was more active in the brain’s reward system when watching their beloved ones

5. The role of hormones in bonding
Modern research has discovered that two hormones help to increase the bond between lovers
Adult attachment – hormones oxytocin and vasopressin
Oxytocin – released in men and women during touching and sex
Also during childbirth – could explain the “strong” bond between mother and child, or at least secure it – experiments done on rats which confirmed these findings

6. vasopressin Another important hormone for long-term commitment
Also released during sex
Animals that have more sex than necessary (humans) prairie voles
for example,
test to suppress
the effect of vasopressin
What happened?

7. Evolutionary explanations
Jealousy, David Buss - may be biologically based – to optimize the potential for reproduction
Low (1990) – correlation between parasites and the degree of polygyny –higher the higher
Another Buss study analysed facial characteristics such as high cheekbones, masculine chin (symmetrical facial features or not)
Read the dirty shirt study by Wedekind 1995 and summarize it with one paragraph

8. Origins of attraction: the cognitive level of analysis
Relates to perception and social cognition
If we perceive another person as similar to oneself –could be the explanation behind the attraction
Opposites attract – false! Couples tend to be similar in age, religion, social class, cultural background, personality, education, intelligence, physical attractiveness, attitudes…

9. Activity
Write down:
Describe the psychological characteristics, values, and attitudes of your ideal romantic partner, without thinking of anyone in particular

10. Activity
No, write down:
Describe yourself

11. Shared interests and also the other person’s support for one’s own views and attitudes (rewarding)
Markey et al (2000) investigated to which similarity is a factor in the way people choose partners.
A large sample of young people
Asked to describe their ideal partner
Then to describe themselves
Results?

12. Results showed similar results –
A follow up study with couples showed the same
Though only on Americans
Higher the match – influence how the relationship progress
Do Research in psychology and answer the questions 1-4 on p. 277 for tomorrow

13. Sociocultural level of analysis
Origins of attraction
Sociocultural level of analysis

14. Similarity also has do with same social and cultural norms
How contact and interaction take place makes a difference/ or influence
Frequency of interacting is a good prediction of liking and also if one lived close (dormitories, elderly homes, campuses, work, school…right Anna?)
Interaction provide us with connectedness and attachment and this is a human need,
Zajonc – the mere exposure effect

15. THE ROLE OF CULTURE IN THE FORMATION AND MAINTENANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS
Love – a different meaning in different cultures
Marriage – comes after love or before? Depends on the culture
Buss (1994) largest cross-cultural studies on relationships – from 37 cultures
Some aspects were similar – such as sex, but a lot were different such as where they ranked “love”