GRIFFITT AND GUAY: Participants asked to do a
creative task and evaluated by experimenter.
Then asked to rate experimenter. Those who
has been positively evaluated (rewarded) rated
the experimenter highly. Also supports classical
conditioning as when asked to rate an onlooker,
those who performed well and had a positive
experience rated more highly.
ARON et al : used MRI scans to investigate brain activity of 17 individuals in love.
Asked to rate how in love they were. Dopamine activity was greater when
shown picture of lover rather than just a friend. Activity correlated with love
rating prior. Shows we form relationships with those who provide reward
(dopamine)
Deterministic
Suggests that when people provide reinforcement
or are positively associated then we will form a
relationship. Not always the case.
Ethnocentric
Collectivist cultures don't
have the same emphasis
on reward. Helping others
can be considered
rewarding, rather than
personal gain.
Arranged mariages are not
based on positive associations
but does lik to rewards such as
famil ties and financial reasons
Mundane Realism
Most studies in this area are
laboratory studies and therefore do
not necessarily show the theory
applies to real life situations
Gender Bias
LOTT: suggests many women are
more focused on the needs of
others rather than recieving
reinforcement themselves
HAYS: we gain
satisfaction from giving as
well as recieveing