Untitled

What is a relationship

• •“An interaction between the self and
• significant others”.
• •
• •All animals form relationships in one
• form or another and for differing amounts of time, e.g. pairing for life or
• meeting to mate, parent/offspring, siblings etc.
• •
• •For social animals relationships are
• essential. They are needed for material,
• emotional and tangible help and support.
• •
• •Usually an individual receives something
• or benefits in some way from a relationship.

Attraction

• •Physical appearance
• Usually those who confirm our cultural
• notion of attractiveness. Averageness and symmetry have been shown to be
• important.
• •
• Studies show we react positively to attractiveness
• and
• negatively to unattractiveness. e.g.
• lighter sentences given to more attractive people.
• The matching hypothesis (Walster
• et. al. 1966) shows that people choose a partner of similar
• attractiveness. Hutson
• (1973) said this maybe due to fear of rejection by those ‘out of your league’.

Slide 3

• •Could be based on evolutionary theory
• that men go for women showing cues of youth and health, as females are more
• fertile when young and healthy.
• •
• •Females go for men showing cues of
• resources, e.g. money as they can provide for young and offer protection.
• •- Hence
• when men and women ‘cheat’, it is to over-emphasize theses points, e.g.
• surgery, make-up, status symbols etc

Slide 4

Slide 5

Slide 6

Slide 7