Lecture 6

Question 1

Inclusion of Other and Self Scale

Answer 1

• Definition: Measures the extent to which one feels overlap with a close person.
• Instructions: Bring someone close to mind, representing the balance between autonomy and relatedness.
• Implications: Associated with satisfaction, stability, language use, and autonomy in relationships.

Question 2

Aron’s Self-Expansion Model

Answer 2

• Concept: Inclusion of Other in the Self (IOS).
• Assumptions:
• Humans have a drive for self-expansion.
• Self-expansion is acquired through relationships with others.
• Hypothesis: Romantic satisfaction depends on the association of the relationship with self-expansion.

Question 3

Relationship Satisfaction Study (1993)

Answer 3

• Groups:
• Engage in pleasant activities.
• Engage in novel and exciting activities (self-expanding).
• Control group with no specific instructions.
• Results: Novel activities group reported increased relationship satisfaction compared to other groups.

Question 4

Boredom and Relationship Satisfaction

Answer 4

• Findings: Boredom (opposite of self-expansion) decreases closeness and satisfaction.
• Correlation: Stronger in longer relationships, where new relationships already contribute to self-expansion.

Question 5

Self-Expansion and Sexual Satisfaction

Answer 5

• Impact: Decreases in self-expansion correlate with a decline in sexual desire and satisfaction.
• Partner Responsiveness: Partners being responsive to each other’s needs increases satisfaction.
• Effect of Novel Activities: Engagement in self-indicated novel activities boosts sexual desire, satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction.

Question 6

Adaptive Function of Seeking Support

Answer 6

• Origin: Developed as an adaptive function through natural selection.
• Bowlby’s Observation: Even well-nurtured (orphan) babies displayed developmental problems, indicating the need for a sense of safety from a parent.

Question 7

Infant/Mother Bond and Adult Romantic Relationships

Answer 7

• Similarities:
• Adults rely on attachment figures to cope with stress.
• Attachment figures serve as secure bases for exploration.
• Virtual Reality Stress Study: Higher stress when the romantic partner was absent or gave inattentive support.

Question 8

Clothing of Romantic Partners and Stress Reduction

Answer 8

• High Anxiety: Worry about responsiveness, negative view of self.
• High Avoidance: Distrust, negative view of others.
• Internal Working Models: Autobiographical memories shape expectations, influencing emotion regulation and behavior.

Question 9

Collins & Feeney’s Support Note Study

Answer 9

• Conditions: Unambiguous and ambiguous support notes.
• Results: Secure participants interpret ambiguous notes more positively, leading to better performance.
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Own interpretations contribute to anxiety.

Question 10

Feeney & Kirkpatrick’s Stress Response Study

Answer 10

• Scenario: Presence of partner reduces stress response.
• Findings: Less effective among insecurely attached individuals.

Question 11

Simpson et al. Support Seeking Behaviour Study

Answer 11

• Stressful Task Scenario: Secure women seek contact, insecure women withdraw.
• Observation: Attachment styles influence support-seeking behavior in stressful situations.

Question 12

Anxiety and Avoidance Behaviours

Answer 12

• Anxiety: Demanding, need for reassurance, less accurate decoding of positive behavior.
• Avoidance: Withdrawal, defensiveness, need for autonomy, less disclosure, lack of connectedness.

Question 13

Fluidity of Attachment Styles

Answer 13

• Not Set in Stone: Attachment styles can change over time.
• Snowball Effect: Experiences are influenced by our own expectations.