2. ATP Social 8: Attraction and Close RelationshipsTom Farsides Attraction and Close Relationships

3. ATP Social 8: Attraction and Close RelationshipsTom Farsides Lecture contents Evolutionary psychology Utility theories of close relationships Social exchange theory Taxonomies of close relationships The triangular theory of love Relationship development Passionate and compassionate love Patterns of self-disclosure Troubled relationships

4. ATP Social 8: Attraction and Close RelationshipsTom Farsides The selfish gene Gender-specific differences in optimal strategies for gene survival (on average, among humans, in the state of nature). For women: serial long-lasting relationships with the best economic providers possible. For men: multiple parallel short-term relationships with the most fertile women possible. Genes from people adopting these strategies are likely to become relatively numerous in subsequent generations (up to a point). Therefore, to the extent that such behaviours are genetically determined, such behaviours are likely to become increasingly common (up to a point) in subsequent generations.

5. ATP Social 8: Attraction and Close RelationshipsTom Farsides The selfish gene as explanation of sexual behaviour To the extent that (i) sexual behaviour is genetically determined, and (ii) environmental conditions are supportive of natural evolution, we would expect to find a majority of women to be clingy (but pretending not to be) and a majority of men to be loose (but pretending not to be).

6. ATP Social 8: Attraction and Close RelationshipsTom Farsides Evolutionary psychology Does assume a genetic basis for sexual (and other) behaviour. Does consider that environmental conditions are typically supportive of natural evolution. It therefore predicts that most women will be clingy (but pretending not to be) and most men will be loose (but pretending not to be). Deviant behaviour is nevertheless to be expected: Other successful strategies in ESS. Non-denied occasional influence of environmental conditions. Natural process of evolution.

7. ATP Social 8: Attraction and Close RelationshipsTom Farsides The debate Many criticisms of evolutionary psychology are weak, often misunderstanding the theory. Any finding (and its opposite) can be explained by both evolutionary psychology and sociocultural perspectives. E.g., if a sample of faithful men are found: Measurement bias Evolutionary pressures to become increasingly convincing. Sampling bias Faithfulness in men does not usually prevent genetic transmission. Local conditions Women may have the opportunity to be highly selective.

8. ATP Social 8: Attraction and Close RelationshipsTom Farsides Social Exchange Theory Framework

9. ATP Social 8: Attraction and Close RelationshipsTom Farsides The Triangular Theory of Love Sternberg (1986)

10. ATP Social 8: Attraction and Close RelationshipsTom Farsides Passion and compassion Hatfield (1988) Passionate love Emotionally intense, often highly erotic Compassionate love Secure, trusting, comfortable

11. ATP Social 8: Attraction and Close RelationshipsTom Farsides Passion Passionate love as arousal + attribution Dutton & Aron (1984) White et al. (1981) But Foster et al. (1998)

12. ATP Social 8: Attraction and Close RelationshipsTom Farsides Social penetration theory (Altman & Taylor, 1973)

13. ATP Social 8: Attraction and Close RelationshipsTom Farsides Relationships in crisis Self-disclosure changes: For some, a long, thin dagger of discontent. Cf. Negative affect reciprocity. For others, less breadth and depth. Cf. Demand/withdraw interaction pattern. Making things better: Increasing rewards in non-contentious areas. Trying to understand the other persons point of view. Including avoiding fundamental attribution errors for negative acts.

14. ATP Social 8: Attraction and Close RelationshipsTom Farsides Aron et al.s (1992) Other in the self (IOS) Scale