THEORIES OF ATTRACTION

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THEORIES OF ATTRACTION

• FILTER MODEL p. 85
• REWARD NEED THEORY
• p.86
• ECONOMIC THEORIES EXCHANGE AND EQUITY p. 87

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THEORIES OF ATTRACTION

• It is difficult to test theories of
  inter-personal attraction and relationships,
  because
• 1. They are so varied
• 2. There are many different types of
• relationship
• 3. Relationships change over time
• 4. They cannot be tested in the lab or
  manipulated in any way
• 5. Variables cannot be controlled

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FILTER MODEL OF RELATIONSHIPS

• Kerckhoff and Davis 62 proposed that
  relationships develop though a series of filters
• Field of availables
• Field of desirables
• Complementarity of
• Emotional needs

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FIELD OF AVAILABLES

• This refers to social and demographic variables.
  People tend to limit themselves to those who are
  of similar culture, social class, attractiveness,
  religion

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FIELD OF DESIRABLES

• People seek out those who have similar attitudes
  and values
• Lastly, for a relationship to continue, there
  needs to be complementarity of emotional needs

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EVIDENCE FOR FILTER MODEL

• Kerkhoff and Davis tested their theory on student
  couples who had been together more or less than
  18 months.
• Over 7 months they reported on attitude
  similarity and personality traits.
• Relationships that were less than 18 months old
  attitude similarity was rated as the most
  important factor
• Relationships that were more than 18 months old
  ability to meet the others needs was rated as
  the most important factor

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EVALUATION OF FILTER MODEL

• It helps to isolate factors which influence
  relationship continuity
• Emphasises the importance of demographic factors
  and attitude similarity
• A longitudinal study over 21 years found that
  those with similar age and educational level were
  more likely to stay together, BUT
• It is difficult to divide relationships into
  stages as they all develop at different rates

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REWARD-NEED THEORY

• We receive reinforcement from others in the form
  of
• Love Sex Status Help Money
• Agreement with our opinions.
• Positive reinforcement Results in
• Approval of others increased self
  esteem
• Comfort from others satisfies dependency
• Control of others satisfies power needs
• Making love satisfies sexual
  needs
• This is OPERANT CONDITIONING

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REWARDS

• Can you think of any?
• Fun
• Sharing activities
• Spending time together
• Early on in a relationship people exchange
  rewards on a tit-for-tat basis (exchange
  relationship)
• Later, they turn into communal relationships
  where rewards are less reciprocal and done more
  out of concern for the other without thought of
  being paid back

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SELF DISCLOSURE

• Intimacy develops as people reveal more
  information about themselves and the relationship
  becomes closer.
• This is rewarding because it implies trust
• Amount of disclosure is usually matched by the
  other and follows the
• NORM OF RECIPROCITY

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EVALUATION OF REWARD-NEED THEORY

• 1. We are more attracted to those who positively
  
• reinforce us.
• BUT
• 2. The theory assumes that people are selfish
  and out to maximise their rewards
• 3. The theory is more relevant to individualist
  than collectivist cultures

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SUMMARY OF THEORIES

• Both the filter model and reward need theory
  suggest that long term relationships are likely
  to form where partners meet each others needs
• Smith and Mackie found that long term, happy
  relationships meet the couples needs. Unhappy
  relationships entail unmet needs
• Reward need theory acknowledges that rewards and
  needs differ from person to person, e.g. need for
  affiliation. Some people want large amounts of
  social contact whilst others prefer their own
  company

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MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS

• ECONOMIC THEORIES
• People are constantly assessing what they are
  putting in and what they are getting out of a
  relationships. The 4 theories are
• Social exchange theory p.88
• Interdependence theory p.88
• Investment model p.89
• Equity theory p.89

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ECONOMIC THEORIES OF RELATIONSHIPS

• SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY
• we attempt to maximise rewards and minimise
  costs of relationships
• Task make a list of rewards and costs
• Reward costs profit
• If rewards outweigh the costs,
  then
• the relationship is in a state
  of profit.
• The theory takes the view that
  people are
• basically selfish

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INTERDEPENDENCE THEORY

• THIBAUT AND KELLEY likened relationships to
  business. We compare in 2 ways
• Compare current relationship to ones we have had
  in the past
• Compare relationship with alternatives being
  alone or with someone else.
• According to social exchange theory, a person
  will leave a relationship if the costs are
  greater than the rewards. This is assessed by
  using the above comparison levels

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EVALUATION OF SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY

• 1. Argyle argued that we dont spend time
  counting the cost until the relationship becomes
  unsatisfying
• 2. Studies show that relationships involve
• REWARDS COSTS, not
• REWARDS - COSTS
• 3. People stay in very unrewarding relationships.
  This may be because of past investment

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INVESTMENT MODEL

• Rusbolt and van Lange 1996 proposed that
  commitment is the best predictor of whether a
  relationship will last. Commitment is made up
  of
• Satisfaction a feeling that the rewards are
  unique
• A belief that this relationship offers better
  rewards than others on offer
• Investment share of mutual friends, property,
  emotional investment
• These factors act as a barrier to breakdown

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EVIDENCE FOR INVESTMENT MODEL

• Peplau et al 2003 studied married couples over 18
  months.
• Commitment was the best predictor of relationship
  stability, so it supports the model
• A study of violent marriages in 2005 found that
  women who had experienced the most violence were
  often the most committed

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EQUITY THEORY

• HATFIELD extended social exchange theory to
  include fairness over time.
• People expect to receive rewards in proportion to
  what they are giving
• Imbalance is tolerated if both partners accept
  the situation

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EQUITY THEORY

• People expect fairness in a relationship. If
  people feel the relationship is roughly equal,
  then they are satisfied, BUT
• If one person feels they are the loser they will
  feel dissatisfied, whilst the winner may feel
  guilty.
• Short-term solution - end relationship
• Long-term solution - investments are greater so
  there will be more motivation to repair the
  relationship

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4 ASSUMPTIONS OF EQUITY THEORY

• Individuals try to maximise rewards they receive
  and minimise costs
• There is negotiation to produce fairness
• If the relationships is unfair (inequitable) it
  causes distress
• The disadvantaged person will try to make the
  relationship equitable

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ROLE PLAY

• Act out a scene where one of you is dissatisfied
  with the relationship.
• Audience which tactics are being used?
• Reducing input
• Increasing the other persons output

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EVIDENCE FOR EQUITY THEORY

• Van Yperen and Buunk 1990 carried out a
  longitudinal study on 259 couples.
• They measured satisfaction using a questionnaire.
  What did they find? P.90
• Consider on methodological issue and one ethical
  issue concerning this research p.90

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FINDINGS

• 65 felt the relationship was equitable
• 25 of men felt they over-benefited
• 25 of women felt they under-benefited
• One year later those who felt they were in an
  equitable relationship were most satisfied
• Best indicator of relationship breakdown was the
  woman feeling she under-benefited

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BREAKDOWN OF RELATIONSHIPS

• Duck examined HOW relationships end, rather than
  why.
• He outlined 4 phases
• Intra-psychic phase unhappiness at partners
  behaviour. Talk to friends, then voice concern to
  partner I cant stand it any more
• Dyadic phase couple may talk through
  difficulties. May try couple counselling.
• I am justified in leaving

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DUCKS PHASE MODEL

• 3. Social phase couple announces the
  possibility of a split. Friends may take sides.
  I mean it
• 4. Grave dressing phase couple have split up.
  Both parties impart their side of the story to
  friends and family. Blame is aportioned

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METHODOLOGY IN RELATIONSHIP RESEARCH

• The experimental method can only focus on an
  isolated slice of a relationship
• Relationships change over time, so it should be
  studied as a process rather than a state
• Longitudinal studies are therefore helpful.
• But if a relationship is studied, this in itself
  may change it.