1. Attraction and Relationships

2. “Thin slicing”: How first impressions matter Judging personality traits (Willis & Todorov, 2006) Ppts. saw pictures of faces at various durations Attractiveness, likeability, competence, trustworthiness, aggressiveness 1/10 of a second correlated with judgments without time limits Strongest results for trustworthiness In another study: ppts predict winning and loosing political candidates from pictures

3. “Thin slicing”: How first impressions matter Teacher evaluations (Ambady & Rosenthal, 1993) 10, 5, 2 sec. long videotape of prof’s teaching …predicted student evaluations at the end of term

4. “Thin slicing”: How first impressions matter Do people agree on first impressions? Yes The 1 million $ chicken-egg question:

5. Lecture Outline 1) The Psychology of attraction Propinquity Similarity Physical attractiveness Mate preferences

6. Propinquity Physical proximity encourages liking, friendships, and romance  “Police Academy” study

7. Fig. 3.2

8. Propinquity Explanations of Propinquity Effects  Availability encourages interactions  Anticipating Interactions produces warm feelings  The Mere Exposure Effect: repeated exposure breeds familiarity, which encourages liking

9. Fig. 3.3 Turkish words examples: kadirga, afworbu, lokanta

10. Mere Exposure Effect  Does not need conscious reflection—same effect with subliminal exposure  One psychological factor as to why advertising works

12. Similarity Similarity breeds attraction “birds of a feather…”  Engaged couples study  “Bogus Stranger” studies What about opposites attract? Yes, few exceptions  Sexual attraction  A few personality traits (dominant/submissive, talkative/quiet, nurturing/needy

13. Why Does Similarity Encourage Attraction?  Social validation  Smooth social interactions  We Expect Similar Others to Like Us  Similar Others Have Qualities We Like

14. Physical Attractiveness: Important feature of first impressions ”Halo effect”: belief that attractive people possess other positive qualities  Attractive people earn more  Attractive defendants are less likely to be convicted, and receive lighter sentences  Men more likely to come to aid of attractive females  Essays attributed to attractive author evaluated more favorably  Etc.

15. Origins of Physical Attractiveness Is it arbitrary cultural convention or are there innate preferences?  Cultural aspect #1: Thinness

16. Origins of Physical Attractiveness Is it arbitrary cultural convention or are there innate preferences?  Cultural aspect #1: Thinness  Cultural aspect #2: Skin tone

17. Origins of Physical Attractiveness Innate aspect  Babies look longer at what adults consider to be attractive faces  Video clip  Cross cultural agreement on attractive faces

18. Origins of Physical Attractiveness Innate architecture of physical attractiveness  Bilateral symmetry (facial and bodily) is attractive  Average faces are attractive (Langlois & Roggman, 1990)  Healthy skin is attractive  In general, features that were associated with reproductive health in the ancestral environment are considered attractive

19. Mate Preferences (rank) by gender in 37 cultures TraitMF Mutual attraction11 Dependable character22 Maturity33 Good health57 Sociability76 Good looks1013

20. Gender Differences in Mate Preferences  There are reliable gender differences in mate preferences--drum rolls, please  On average, men prefer physical attractiveness and youth more than women  On average, women prefer status and older age more than men  Warning: the naturalistic fallacy

21. Largest and Smallest gender differences Chastity: Large cultural variation and unreliable or no gender differences Good financial prospects: large gender differences and little cultural variation

22. Gender Differences in Mate Preferences Parental investment theory  Evolution has instilled in men and women desires that are advantageous to their reproductive success  Biologically, women invest more in their offspring then men  Women are the choosier gender in humans  Women should prefer men with resources  Men should prefer fertility (youthful appearance)

23. Gender Differences in Mate Preferences Is the parental investment predictions anything more than common sense?  cross-species comparisons (the Panamanian poison-arrow frog, hyenas, emperor penguins)  Cross culturally universal  but also large cultural variation—overall more cultural differences than gender differences  Gender inequality correlated with the size of the gender difference in preference for status (Eagly and Wood)

24. Gender Differences in Mate Preferences Is the parental investment predictions anything more than common sense?  Ovulating women find masculine men more attractive  but this is not exactly derived from parental investment theory

25. Some Conclusions about Gender Differences in Mate Preferences Systematic average gender differences predicted by parental investment theory Cultural context plays more important role than gender for all other traits Complex interaction of life history, culture, and gender-specific preferences Naturalistic fallacy—evolutionary explanation is not moral justification!

26. Lecture Outline 2) The Psychology of relationships Passionate and companionate love Marriage

27. Passionate vs. companionate love (Berscheild & Walster) Passionate love Intense longing, ecstasy/despair Intense but brief Like a drug, a burning fire Companionate love Feelings of intimacy, care, connection Slow growing but long lasting Like vines growing and intertwining, binding The myth of eternal passion

28. Love and Marriage across Cultures (Levine et al, 1995) If a man (woman) had all other qualities you desired, would you marry this person if you were not in love? (% AGREE) Patna,Fresno,Birm,KyotoHK IndiaCalifUKJP 49%3.5%7.3%2.3%5.8%

29. Love and Marriage across Cultures (Levine et al, 1995) If love has completely disappeared from a marriage, OK for couple to make a clean break and start new lives? (% AGREE) Patna,Fresno,Birm,KyotoHK IndiaCalifUKJP 46%35%45%41%47%

30. Time (6 months) Intensity Companionate Passionate Danger points From: Haidt, The Happiness Hypothesis Two Loves, Two Errors

31. Time (60 years) Intensity Companionate Passionate From: Haidt, The Happiness Hypothesis The Longer Term Picture