Ch. 9 – Being With Others & Initial Attraction

#1. Correlation between social connectedness and physical health Positive correlation The more socially connected, the more physically healthy

#2. What does it mean to affiliate? To establish social contact with others

#3. What triggers motivation to affiliate? External threats and fear Schachter study where people expected to receive shocks – chose to wait in the company of others

#4. Four characteristics of shy people Evaluate themselves negatively Expect to fail in social encounters and blame themselves when they do Conform out of fear of rejection Go into self-imposed isolation

#5. The loneliest age group 18-30 year olds Loneliness occurs at times of transition, which occurs most at these ages.

#6. Two theories of attraction Rewards Evolution

#7. Two predictors of relationships Proximity - people who are in the same place at the same time Exposure - the more people see something, the more they like it

#9. Studies showing power of physical attractiveness Teachers given info and pic of students, rated attractive kids as smarter and more likely to do well when all other info was the same. Attractive people able to get more petition signatures on college campus. Judges set lower bail and smaller fines for attractive people. Attractive people make more money (across US and Canada) than comparable less-attractive others.

#10. Female characteristics of attractiveness hourglass figure large eyes prominent cheekbones small nose wide smile features that are close to the average and symmetrical – p. 309 (face composites)

#11. Male characteristics of attractiveness v-shaped physique height broad jaw features that are close to the average and symmetrical

#12. How do we feel after seeing attractive people? Opposite sex – good Same sex – bad Graph on p. 310 *Note: this assumes heterosexuality. Our book does not include research on how this effect changes based on sexuality 

#14. Attractiveness and insecurity Often can’t tell if positive feedback is the result of their work or just their looks Feel pressure to maintain appearance, which can lead to detrimental behavior

#15. Three influencers of attraction Similarity - we are more likely to be attracted to those demographically similar to us as well as those who hold similar attitudes. Liking - We prefer relationships that are psychologically balanced. Balance exists when there’s reciprocity: a mutual exchange between what we give and receive – for example, liking those who like us Being hard to get - We actually prefer people who are moderately selective more than those who are non selective or too selective. Wanting what we think we can’t or shouldn’t have

#18. Setting Up and Reduced attraction People like to maintain freedom, so when they feel that threatened, they fight it.

#19. Why are women more selective? They are biologically limited in the number of offspring they can produce. More likely to seek out a mate who is able and willing to provide for that offspring. More threatened by emotional infidelity Prefer older partners

#20. Why do men value chastity? To ensure the offspring is theirs More threatened by sexual infidelity Also, seek out best chance at reproduction Seek youth and signs of fertility and health *Again, this is evolutionary research based on heterosexual dynamics.