PSY204 Attraction

Urge to form connections and make contact with other people.

Lack of physical touch, care and intermediate interaction. Lead to cognitive and social deficits.

Lead to a reduction in psychological wellbeing – depression, apathy and distortions in reality/ hallucinations.

How other people help to reduce anxiety, act as a guidance on how to think and behave.

The tendency of an infant to maintain close physical proximity with the mother or primary cate-giver.

Attachment style where the individual displays trust in others, find it easy to form relationships.

Attachment style where the individual finds it difficult to trust others, depend on them, feel nervous when anyone gets close.

Attachment style where the individual is concerned that others won’t reciprocate your desire for intimacy

When we are attracted to someone we want to get to know that person and spend time with that person.

Attractive people are different from those who are unattractive in how they are judged, how they are treated and how they behave.

Physical distance of one person to another.

Immediacy of another person which requires little effort and rewards have little cost.

Leads to feelings of comfort and increased liking.

Repeated exposure to an object results in greater attraction to that object.

One of the most important positive, psychological determinants of attraction.

A non-random coupling of individuals based on their resemblance to each other on one or more characteristics.

According to Heider, people prefer attitudes that are consistent with each other over those that are inconsistent. A person (P) tries to maintain consistency in attitudes to, and relationships with, other people (O) and elements of the environment (X).

Model of attraction which postulates that we like people who are around when we experience a positive feeling.

People often use a form of everyday economics when they weigh up costs and rewards before deciding what to do.

Tenet of social exchange theory, according to which liking for another is determined by calculating what it will cost to be reinforced by that person.

In relating to others, we try to minimise the costs and maximise the rewards that accrue.

This flows from a relationship when the rewards that accrue from continued interaction exceed the costs.

A standard that develops over time, allowing us to judge whether a new relationship is profitable or not.

A special case of social exchange theory that defines a relationship as equitable when the ratio of inputs to outcomes are seen to be the same by both partners.

The fairness of the outcome of a decision.

The fairness of the procedures used to make a decision.

A combination of emotions, thoughts and actions which are often powerful, and usually associated with intimate relationships.

The caring and affection for another person that usually arises from sharing time together.

State of intense absorption in another person involving physiological arousal.

Sternberg argues that this is the ultimate form of love, involving passion, intimacy and commitment.

People who know and care about us and who can provide back-up during a time of stress.

Duck’s proposal of the sequence through which most long-term relationships proceed if they finally break down.

Focusses on partner’s behaviour, assessing relationship viability.

Face confrontation or avoidance, relationship negotiation talks, assess costs of withdrawal.

Relationship is near to end, thus social support and recommendations are sought out.

Getting over the relationship, retrospection, and distributing own version of breakup publicly.