Formation of......

Theories of formation, maintenance and

breakdown of human romantic relationships.

A

Students

Guide

Psychology Ex-L. Catherine Rose Riley. 12VICN

CONTENTS

Theories of formation of romantic relationships

Maintenance of romantic relationships

Breakdown on romantic relationships

Extra:VocabularyReferences

Independent working log

THEORIES OF FORMATION OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

Clore & Byrne – Reinforcement affect model:

Reinforcement leads us to like people who reward us. Such reinforcement might be someone else acting positively towards us, or a situation involving someone else rewarding us.Affect refers to the positive feelings that are associated with a good experience. If a particular event or situation creates positive feelings, then a person who is associated with the event becomes a conditioned stimulus, producing the conditioned response. Increased affect towards that person leads to relationship formation.

Evaluation:•This is a relatively simple model•The model does not account for relationships were rewards are irrelevant

Argyle – Reward/ Need Satisfaction

People form relationships because interpersonal relationships satisfy parts of the seven basic motives or needs:1. Biological2. Dependency3. Affiliation4. Dominance5. Sex6. Aggression7. Self esteem

Evaluation:• This explanation is more appropriate to individualist

societies because the needs are focused on the individual not the group

THEORIES OF FORMATION OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

MAINTENANCE OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

Social Exchange Theory – Thibaut and Kelley

Social exchange refers to the exchange of rewards between two people, such as being cared for, companionship and sex. Relationships also incur costs such as money spent, or opportunities missed. According to this theory people maximise their rewards and minimise costs, so they receive a profit from the relationship e.g. Satisfaction. In order to judge the rewards in a relationship, people make two comparisons:1. Between actual and expected rewards.2. The comparison level for alternative relationshipsThibaut and Kelley suggest relationships develop through key

stages:• Sampling- explore rewards and costs directly and

indirectly• Bargaining- prospective partners establish sources of

profit and loss• Commitment- routines are established• Institutionalisation- norms and mutual expectations are

established

Evaluation of social exchange theory – Thibaut and Kelley

Social exchange theory can be applied to all types of relationships. It takes an mechanistic approach. In reality, relationships are more complex. It is difficult to define rewards or costs, and to quantify satisfaction or profit. It also focuses too much on the individual perspective, rather than social aspects of a relationship, such as how partners talk with each other and interpret shared events.

MAINTENANCE OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

MAINTENANCE OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

Relationships are maintained through strategies that couples develop. Rusburt et al 1986 suggested that there are four strategies that can be combined. Active or passive, constructive or destructive e.g. Loyalty = passive, constructive strategy where a partner waits for the situation to improve.

Evaluation:This is a more recent approach, looking at the interaction between partners, rather than an individual perspective. It is more qualitative approach than social exchange theory.

THE MAINTENANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS CAN BE EXPLAINED MORE SIMPLY IN DAILY ROUTINES

BREAKDOWN OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

Duck – Stage model of relational dissolutionDuck described breakdown in five stages.1. Breakdown- dissatisfaction leads to

breaking point2. Intra-psychic phase- thinking about the

relationship at first in private, then with confidants, and finally with partner. Repair strategy: re-establish liking for partner.

3. Dyadic stage- deciding whether to break up or repair. Repair strategy: express conflicts, clear the air and reformulate rules for future relationship.

4. Social phase- including others in debate, enlisting support for your side. Repair strategy: outsiders may help to patch things up or encourage separation.

5. Grave dressing phase- post mortem for public or private re-adjustment. Repair strategy: decide on mutually acceptable version of events, and/or savage friendship out of the breakup.

BREAKDOWN OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

Evaluation of Duck’s stage model of relational dissolutionStrength = The inclusion of repair strategies. Useful for marriage guidance to identify the stage of dissolution reached, and strategies appropriate to that stage.Duck focused on the process that take place after breakdown and focused less on early events.Stage models so not explain why breakdown occurs, they are descriptive.

BREAKDOWN OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

Duck- Risk factorsDuck suggested that breakdown can be explained in terms of risk factors.1. Predisposing personal factors- dispositional

=distasteful personal habits, change in interests, poor role models , dissonance on poor social skills.

2. Precipitating factors- situational= deception, boredom, relocation, conflict, or a better alternative.

EvaluationThese factors offer an explanation for dissolution.Many relationships are stable despite the presence of such factors. Some factors are intervening variables e.g. Lower educational levels may be associated with divorce, but may not be the cause.

Source

Book Letts and Lonsdale – Revise As+A2Complete study and revision guide

AQA PsychologyCara Flanagan

Published by Letts and Lonsdale

Website http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:MqO74Pb3PD0J:www.virtualpsychology.co.uk/powerpoint/TheoriesofAttraction_theformationofrelationships.ppt+theories+of+formation+of+relationships&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

Last accessed: Wednesday 12th August

REFERENCES

VOCABULARYWord/Phrase Meaning

Interpersonal attraction This relates to being interested in another person, and wanting

to get to know them better

Match Hypothesis The tendency to form a relationship with someone who

is of similar level of attractiveness to oneself

Law of attraction The idea that how much we like someone is directly related to how similar our attitudes are

Close Relationships A connection between two people which involves

interdependence in many areas of their lives

Field of availables The name given to the large group of people we could

potentially have a relationship with

Field of desirables Those we would see as potential partners

INDEPENDENT LEARNING LOGDate of work

completedSummary of work

completed

Friday 19th June Background research

Saturday 20th June Reading on topic and relevant vocabulary

noted

Friday 3rd July Writing up all studies

Saturday 4th July Reading and understanding studies

Sunday 5th July Browsed internet and noted relevant

information

Thursday 23rd July Rough copy of write up completed

Wednesday 12th August Final draft finished