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People tend to form relationships, romantic and otherwise, with others who have the same attitudes, values, interests, and demographics as themselves.
What is excitation transfer?
The tendency for individuals to transfer their excitement about a situation to excitement about a person.
What is misattribution of arousal?
The tendency for individuals to misattribute physiological reactions to environmental stimuli as attraction. (Also refer to misattribution of arousal)
What are 2 ways that contribute to the attractiveness of an individual's face?
Bilateral Symmetry - the two halves of the face are symmetrical
Composite/Average face - "Average-looking" face with little to no unusual or strange features.
How does functional distance relate to relationships?
People who are in close physical proximity due to the design of their environment are more likely to develop a cohesive group.
What does the attachment theory suggest?
The relationships that young children have with their primary caregivers and familial environment affects his or her ability to begin and maintain normal relationships as an adult.
What is meant by derogation of alternatives?
The tendency for individuals who are highly committed to a current partner to downgrade possible alternatives, therefore avoiding temptation.
What do the waist-to-hips ratio and waist-to-shoulders ratio imply?
Female body attractiveness can be determined by the comparison of waist-to-hip and waist-to-shoulder circumference.
What are the three attachment styles?
Secure attachment, anxious/ambivalent attachment, avoidant/fearful attachment
According to the strange situation task, if a mother left her child alone in a room and the child demonstrates low levels of anxiety, what attachment style can we assume the child has?
Avoidant/fearful Attachment style
What does a secure attachment type look like?
Produced by consistently supportive parents, this attachment style translates into healthy, trusting, long-term adult relationships and creates high self-esteem with little jealous or anxious tendencies.
According to the strange situation task, if a mother left her child alone in a room and the child became upset, cried and had high levels of anxiety, what attachment style can we assume the child has?
Anxious/Ambivalent attachment style (Parents were inconsistent)
According to the strange situation task, if a mother left her child alone in a room and the child initially had moderate levels of anxiety, but eventually explored the strange situation room with high levels of self-esteem, what attachment style can we assume the child has?
Secure Attachment Style (Parents were consistently good)
How does alcohol interfere with the brain's ability to suppress aggression?
Alcohol Disinhibition Hypothesis: The idea that alcohol interferes with the brains ability to suppress violent behavior by lowering anxiety and harming an individual’s ability to accurately assess a situation.
Alcohol affects GABA, the brain’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter.
The tendency for the presence of weapons to prime aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
What does the avoidant/fearful attachment style look like?
Produced by unsupportive parents, this attachment style translates to general lack of trust and isolating behaviors within adult relationships.
What are three reliable predictors of attraction?
Similarity, Mere Exposure/Proximity, Psychological Arousal
What are 4 physical traits that make someone "attractive"?
Bilateral symmetry, Composite/"Average" face, Waist-to-hips ratio, Waist-to-shoulders ratio
What does the anxious/ambivalent attachment style look like?
Produced by inconsistent parents, this attachment style translates into high levels of jealousy and low self-esteem creating turbulent adult relationships.
What is meant by genetic determinism?
The idea that genetic influence alone determines behavioral outcomes.
EX: Pit bulls are known for being aggressive and are generalized as being this way because of their breed.
How does environment affect aggression?
Cognitive neoassociation analysis - A theory that predicts aggression is based on both negative emotional reactions and cognitive, logical interpretations of one's environment.
What does the stages of provocation model tell us?
Divided into three stages, this model correlates increased aggression to increased emotional, cognitive, and behavioral arousal.
Describe/ list some values in a culture of honor.
A culture where individuals, especially men, tend to perceive insults as a threat to their reputation that must be restored through dominance and aggression.
Masculine courage, price in manhood, socialization, virtue, protection, provocation/insult, family and community bonds.
Differentiate between hostile/reactive aggression and instrumental/proactive aggression.
Instrumental/proactive - thoughtful, reaction-based decision to harm others in order to gain resources such as territory, money, self-esteem, social status.
Describe the Catharsis hypothesis.
The idea that purposeful engagement in aggressive behavior releases built up aggression, reducing aggressive thoughts and behaviors overall.