Attraction & Relationships (Lecture 19)

The factors that lead us to form relationships, including proximity, physical attractiveness, and similarity.

The tendency for people to form relationships with those who are physically close to them, which increases the likelihood of interaction.

The phenomenon where repeated exposure to something increases liking for it, which helps explain why proximity leads to relationships.

The tendency for people to form relationships with those who are physically attractive, with attractiveness being a strong predictor of relationship initiation.

The belief that what is beautiful is good, meaning attractive people are often assumed to have other positive qualities such as sociability and intelligence.

The tendency for people to form relationships with others who are similar to them in attitudes, values, interests, background, and personality.

The degree to which people perceive themselves as similar to others, which is often a more important factor than actual similarity in fostering attraction.

A theory that defines love as consisting of three components: intimacy, passion, and commitment, with different combinations leading to different types of love.

Feelings of intimacy and affection for someone that are not accompanied by passion or physiological arousal.

An intense longing for someone, accompanied by physiological arousal and often leading to idealization of the partner.

Secure, avoidant, and anxious-ambivalent attachment styles, which are formed early in life and influence future relationships.

An attachment style characterized by a positive view of relationships and the ability to depend on others and have them depend on you without fear of abandonment.

An attachment style where individuals are uncomfortable with closeness and intimacy, leading to brief relationships and a tendency to distance themselves from others.

An attachment style where individuals desire closeness but often worry that their partner doesn’t truly love them, leading to obsessive behaviors and jealousy.

A theory that views relationships as a cost-benefit analysis, where individuals weigh the rewards and costs of staying in a relationship, guided by comparison levels (CL) and comparison levels for alternatives (CL-ALT).

The standard by which individuals evaluate the rewards and costs of a relationship, based on what they believe they deserve.

The evaluation of how a current relationship compares to other potential relationships that might be available, which influences decisions about whether to stay in or leave a relationship.

A theory that suggests satisfaction in relationships is determined by the ratio of benefits to costs, with both under-benefited and over-benefited individuals feeling distress.

Exchange relationships are based on reciprocity and fairness, often in short-term relationships, while communal relationships focus on being responsive to the other’s needs, common in long-term relationships.

A model that describes the ways individuals respond to relationship problems: exit (harming or ending the relationship), voice (trying to improve the relationship), neglect (letting things deteriorate), and loyalty (optimistically waiting for improvement).

Destructive behaviors, such as exit or neglect, are more likely to end a relationship, while constructive behaviors, like voice or loyalty, help repair or maintain it.

An educational approach where students work in small groups, each responsible for a different part of a lesson, which promotes empathy, reduces in-group/out-group boundaries, and improves learning outcomes.

When expectations about someone lead to behaviors that cause those expectations to become true, such as assuming a partner will be caring, which leads to behaviors that make them appear more caring.

Equity theory suggests that people are most satisfied in relationships when there is a balance between the rewards and costs, with both partners contributing and receiving equally.

Social identity threat occurs when people feel devalued or mistreated due to their social identities, which can negatively affect their behavior and outcomes in relationships.