Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen Liking, Loving, and Close Relationships

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 Predictors of Attraction - Nearness Propinquity –proximity in physical space that creates the opportunity to meet someone Spatial ecology –the physical layout of the environment influences likelihood of attraction Functional distance –functional nearness of two people in the environment may override actual distance

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 Predictors of Attraction - Likeness Similarity –similarity of attitudes predicts liking –being repulsed by others predicts liking Self-disclosure –we like reciprocity in self-disclosure

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 Predictors of Attraction - Cuteness Facial attractiveness –there is cross-cultural agreement on what constitutes an attractive face –facialmetrics identifies which facial features are seen as attractive –faces with average features are rated as attractive

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 Predictors of Attraction - Hotness Bodily features –waist-to-hip ratio predicts attraction –people show preferences for particular weights and heights in others –we don’t much like stinky people

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 Attraction and Evolutionary Theory Certain physical characteristics signal reproductive fitness –clear skin, facial symmetry, waist-to-hip ratio –what we find attractive may have an evolutionary basis to it

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 Concept Review

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 The Social Benefits of Good Looks What is beautiful is good –we often infer that physically attractive people also possess other desirable traits and abilities Do beautiful people actually possess other desirable qualities? –Eh….sometimes yes, sometimes no

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 Friendships Among Children Friendships among children show that popular kids are named frequently in sociometric ratings, and have a lot of friends Unpopular kids commonly engage in aggressive or awkward behavior, which contribute to their rejection by others –rejected-aggressive children –rejected-withdrawn children

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 Friendships Among Adults The development of adult friendships over time has not been extensively studied –some research has examined friendship development among college students Rejection hurts –brain imaging studies show that social rejection may mimic physical pain

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 Infant Attachment Attachment theory was originally proposed to account for infant-caregiver bonds –secure attachment –resistant insecure attachment –avoidant insecure attachment Secure attachment shows cross-cultural consistency, insecure attachment less so

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 Adult Attachment The original attachment model was extended to describe adult close relationships –secure attachment –anxious/ambivalent attachment –avoidant attachment Adults are not children, of course, so attachment research with adults may differ from that conducted with children

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 Close Relationships in Adulthood Social interdependence theory –maximizing interdependent payoffs in a dyad characterizes close relationships Exchange relationships are characterized by record-keeping and book-balancing Communal relationships are characterized by benefits with no obligation to repay them People like equity in their close relationships

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 Intimacy in Adult Relationships Intimacy occurs when a person feels understood, validated, and cared for Several factors are associated with intimacy –self-disclosure –responsiveness –empathic accuracy –extreme interdependence

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 Love Passionate love is exciting and intense Companionate love is deep and enduring There are several styles of love –eros- storge –ludus- mania –pragma- agape

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 Triangular Theory of Love Intimacy –a sense of closeness or connectedness Passion –intense physical and sexual attraction Commitment –dedication to maintain love

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13

Social Psychology Alive, Breckler/Olson/Wiggins Chapter 13 When Relationships End Investment model of close relationships describes the reactions of partners in a dissolving relationship