Evolutionary explanation for partner preferences
●RTS- BUSS- survey- 10000 ppts- 33 countries
●RTS- CLARKE AND HATFIELD- “will you have sex with me?”
●Lacks temporal validity- can’t explain modern relationships
Factors affecting attraction
Self disclosure
●RTS- SPRECHER AND HENDRICK- studied heterosexual couples
●Correlational- reverse co-variables or intervening (time spent together or physical attraction)
●Limited by cultural relativism- USA share more sexual thoughts but have no differences in satisfaction levels
Factors affecting attraction
Physical attractiveness
●RTS- CUNNINGHAM ET AL- Similarities across cultures- large eyes, small nose, prominent cheekbones display genetic fitness
●RTC- TAYLOR ET AL- real life test of matching hypothesis- online daters sought romantic partners who were more attractive than them
●Correlational- intervening factor (time spent together, amount they disclose)
Factors affecting attraction
Filter theory
●RTS- KERCHKOFF AND DAVIS- longitudinal study- both partners completed questionnaires- closeness measured 7 months later
●Lacks temporal validity- created in 1962- rise of online dating
●complementarity may not apply to all types of relationships- lesbian couples report equal dominance
Theory of romantic relationships
Social exchange theory
●RTS- KURDECK- gay, lesbian and heterosexual coupes to complete questionnaires measuring commitment and rewards and costs
●Correlational- switch the covariables. Some couples monitor costs after dissatisfaction
●Lacks cultural relativism- applies to individualistic cultures- more selfish and strive for personal success- collectivist cultures don’t keep track of costs
Theory of romantic relationships
Rusbult’s investment model of commitment
●RTS- LE AND AGNEW META ANALYSIS- 52 studies 11000 ppts from 5 countries. All 3 factors (satisfaction, comparison with alternatives and investment size) all predicted commitment
●Correlational. Cause and effect cannot be established. Switch co variables. Investment then commitment or commitment then investment
● RTS- RUSBULT AND MARTZ- women in a shelter who experienced domestic violence- most likely return to abusive partners due to high investment and no attractive alternatives. High commitment with no satisfaction. Satisfaction alone cannot explain commitment.
Theory of romantic relationships
Equity theory
●UTNE ET AL- QUESTIONNAIRE-118 recently married couples. Together for less than 2 years before marriage. Couples considered themselves equitable more satisfied.
●Correlational- cause and effect cannot be established between inequity and dissatisfaction- intervening factor- amount couple communicates
Duck’s phase model of relationship breakdown
●Practical applications- prevention model for relationship counseling- repair relationships before break up
●too rigid- order isn’t always followed. May skip from intrapsychic to grave dressing- not the most effective explanation for relationship breakdown
●Lacks cultural relativism- research carried out in western cultures. In collectivist cultures they are harder to end due to wider family involvement. Likely to speak to family about issues before partner
Self disclosure
Hyper-personal model
● RTC- RUPPAL ET AL- META ANALYSIS -25 studies - compare self disclosure in f2f and virtual interactions
●self reports methods- prone to social desirability bias- may lie about how much they self disclose in virtual relationships
●alt explanation- absence of gating- not sole explanation
Self disclosure
Absence of gating
●RTS- MCKENNA AND BARGE- investigated online communication by shy, socially anxious people- 71% formed relationships online which survived at least 2 years- f2f 49%
●fail to consider all relationships are multimodal. Maintained online and offline. Relationship between absence of gates and self disclosure is more complex
● alt explanation- hyper-personal model
Explanation of Parasocial
Absorption addiction
●RTS- MATLBY ET AL- adolescents aged 14- 16- poor body image- females formed intense personal with a female whose body they admired
●Correlational- borderline pathological could cause poor psychological health rather than other way around like theory suggests
●alt explanation- attachment theory- not sole explanation
Explanation of Parasocial
Attachment theory
●considered a universal explanation -Kuwait and USA - insecure most likely to form Parasocial relationships with TV personalities and characters
● RTC- MCCUTCHEON ET AL- measured attachment typed and celebrity related attitudes in 200 American students- insecure no more likely to form papa than secure. More complex
●alt explanation- absorption addiction model- not the sole explanation
Not Correlational (6)
Partner preferences
Filter theory
Duck’s phase model
Hyper personal
Absence of gating
Attachment theory
