MALE/FEMALE RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT The differences between the expectations & feelings that girls & guys have when going through a dating relationship.

List the 4 levels of relationships: 1. Acquaintance 2. Casual 3. Close 4. Intimate Social development of Relationships

Psychological Differences –Females: Mature earlier Mature earlier Focus on warmth, closeness, security Focus on warmth, closeness, security Express their feelings & emotions through words Express their feelings & emotions through words –Males: Respond more strongly to visual stimulation Respond more strongly to visual stimulation More easily and quickly aroused More easily and quickly aroused Express their feelings & emotions through actions Express their feelings & emotions through actions

Research shows that male relationships are more durable than female relationships. Because… Men dont feel it necessary to confront a friend whose attitudes or behaviors bother them. Many times because they dont feel its worth the conflict. Women are typically pickier about their friends attitudes and behaviors being the same as their own.

1.Relationships are based on shared conversations. 2.Relationships are more intense, more valued, more intimate and more dependant than guy relationships. 3.Girls are often more critical of their friends & significant others and less satisfied with them than guys. GIRLSGUYS 1.Relationships are based on shared activities. 2.Guys like relationships that are low key and center around activities they do together. 3.Relationships move on a surface level…not around the feelings of like/love, etc.

All that being said,in a building relationship, who moves from ACQUAINTANCE INTIMATE FRIEND faster…Guys or Girls? Why?

Discussion Question on dating relationships: How does a high school dating relationship start? How does a high school dating relationship start? What single need is being met in the beginning of a high school dating relationship? Why? What single need is being met in the beginning of a high school dating relationship? Why? –Emotional? –Social? –Physical?

When dating begins both genders have different needs: …Females have more: EMOTIONAL NEEDS oGirls are more likely to... oShow affection by sharing their feelings, emotions, etc oDo certain behaviors (can be sexual) in order to please their significant other oDefend their significant other when others put them down …Males have more: PHYSICAL NEEDS o Boys are more likely to... oShow affection through physical contact with their significant other oWant to move quickly through the different levels of physical closeness (sexual behavior) oPut on a front about their true feelings about their significant other From the Acquaintance to Close relationship stages…

As relationships develop from the needs for girls & guys shift... …MALES will have more: EMOTIONAL NEEDS oMore likely to... oShow affection by sharing their feelings, emotions, etc oDefend their significant other when others put them down …FEMALES will have more: PHYSICAL NEEDS o More likely to... oShow affection through physical contact with their significant other oWant to move quickly through the different levels of physical closeness In the move from a Close relationship to an Intimate relationship…

As a relationship becomes more intimate, both guys & girls will become more accustomed to... Sharing feelings & emotions with each otherSharing feelings & emotions with each other Passion (emotional & physical)Passion (emotional & physical) –strong feelings or emotions –being intensely emotional –a feeling of strong sexual desire –any object of warm affection or devotion

It looks like this: GIRLS 1. S ocial Needs 2. E motional Needs 3. P hysical Needs BOYS 1. S ocial Needs 2. P hysical Needs 3. E motional Needs What do you think happens once each of these needs are met in the correct order? MARRIAGE

Individual Reflection: in your notes, write your answer to the following… What might a girl do to make the: Social Emotional Physical change to Social Physical Emotional Why?& What might a boy do to make the: Social Physical Emotional change to Social Emotional Physical Why? RELATIONSHIP BREAK DOWN