The Journey Of Adulthood, 6/e Helen L. Bee & Barbara R. Bjorklund Chapter 6 SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

Theories of Social Relationships – Attachment Attachment: strong affectional bond formed by an infant to her primary caregiver. Attachment is inferred by behavior. Key underlying features: Security. Increased during times of stress. Attempts to avoid, or to end, separation from the attachment figure. The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Love Single-Dimension Theories Multiple-Factor Theories Multiple-Cluster Theory

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Single-Dimension Theories Freud believed that love was sexual desire. Rubin believed that love is a single dimension that ranges between liking and loving. Liking: feelings of respect and affection toward the other person. Loving: feelings of caring and intimacy. Other single-dimension theories suggest that love is measured by the amount of limerance or acute longing one feels for the other person. Love

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Multiple-Factor Theories Propose love is made up of several equally important factors. Passionate love: intense longing. Companionate love: affection and familiarity. Sternberg’s multiple-factor theory of love: Intimacy. Passion. Commitment. Love

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Multiple-Cluster Theory Love is a set of a limitless number of feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Love

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. The Convoy Model Convoy: term used to describe one’s network of social relationships.

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Socioemotional Selectivity Theory In adulthood we selectively reduce our social interactions, narrowing our focus to fewer relationships in an effort to maximize social and emotional gains and minimize social and emotional risks.

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Evolutionary Psychology Evolutionary psychology suggests mate selection related to need to increase chances of reproducing and caring for children. Men look for fertility, while women look for health and resources.

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Establishing an Intimate Relationship Long-term Marriages Good and Bad Marriages Cohabitation and Marriage Gay and Lesbian Partnerships Intimate Partnerships in Adulthood

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Establishing an Intimate Relationship Mate selection is part of Erikson’s stage of intimacy versus isolation. Filter theories describe mate selection as a series of steps that rule out more and more potential partners until only one is left. Exchange theory argues that each of has some assets to offer a prospective partner. In choosing a mate, we try for the best exchange we can manage. Intimate Partnerships in Adulthood

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Creating a Relationship: The Role of Attachment Researchers suggest that adult romantic relationship style are reflections of attachment bond the adults had with their parents in childhood. Bartholomew developed four categories: secure, dismissive, preoccupied, and fearful. Intimate Partnerships in Adulthood

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Long-term Marriages Studies track relationships in terms of: major conflicts, emotional styles, psychological intimacy, sexual intimacy, and overall marital satisfaction. Intimate Partnerships in Adulthood

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Good and Bad Marriages Gottman suggests there are three types of stable or enduring marriages: Validating marriages Volatile marriages Avoidant marriages Types of unsuccessful marriages: Hostile/engaged marriages Hostile/detached marriages Negative patterns can be changed in therapy. Intimate Partnerships in Adulthood

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Cohabitation and Marriage Cohabitation is increasingly common and does not always lead to marriage. More cohabitating couples are becoming parents. Cohabitating relationships are not as stable as marriages. Intimate Partnerships in Adulthood

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Intimate Partnerships in Adulthood Gay and Lesbian Partnerships 4-6% of adults in US are exclusively in homosexual relationships. Long-term committed relationships are very common in homosexuals. Homosexual relationships are, on the whole, more egalitarian than heterosexual couples. Levels of satisfaction with their relationship are essentially the same among homosexual couples as heterosexual couples.

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Parent-Child Relationships in Adulthood Grandparent-Grandchild Relationships Relationships with Brothers and Sisters Relationships With Other Family Members

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Parent-Child Relationships in Adulthood (1 of 3) Intergenerational solidarity theory states that family relationships depend on: Associational solidarity Affectional solidarity Consensual solidarity Functional solidarity Normative solidarity Intergenerational family structure Relationships With Other Family Members

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Parent-Child Relationships in Adulthood (2 of 3) Effects of Late-Life Divorce Divorce among older adults is increasing. Financial implications of divorce. Increased caregiving burden on children. Relationships With Other Family Members

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Parent-Child Relationships in Adulthood (3 of 3) Problem Children in Adulthood Children’s problems is a primary cause for depression in older adults. Problems include children’s divorce, financial crises, and drug or alcohol problems. Men are more susceptible to the effects of problem children than women. Relationships With Other Family Members

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Grandparent-Grandchild Relationships This relationship is not legally recognized in most countries. There is great diversity in the nature of grandparent- grandchild relationships. Both gender and ethnic differences are discussed. Relationships With Other Family Members

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Relationships With Other Family Members Relationships with Brothers and Sisters Moderate emotional closeness is most common pattern of sibling relationships in adulthood. Evidence suggests sibling relationships become more significant in later life. In middle adulthood, life events often bring siblings together (e.g., death of a parent).

The Journey of Adulthood 6/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Friendships in Adulthood Friendship: voluntary social relationship carried out within a social context. Friends appear to become less central with age. Women’s friendships are based on talk. Men’s friendships are marked by doing.