RELATIONSHIPS
Topic Name(s) Research
Evolutionary theory Buss Surveys in 33 countries and 10,000 adult asked questions
related to age and attributes
Women placed higher value of resource related
characteristics and males valued reproductive capacity
(looks, younger)
Findings reflect sex di erences in male strategy due to
anisogamy and supports predictions about partner
preference derived from sexual selection theory
(S) Applied to vast cultures and eliminated ethnocentrism
Evolutionary theory Dunbar and Conducted content analysis of 900 personal dating ads
Waynforth and used 4 newspapers from USA
Lonely Hearts 42% of males look for youthful mates in comparison to
25% of females
Men more likely to emphasise economic status and
women emphasise their looks
Discovered that women tended to describe themselves in
terms of physical attractiveness and youth (‘exciting,
flirty, curvy’)
Men, on the other hand, advertised their resources and
intelligence more than women did
Supports evolutionary theory of females being attracted
to wealth and men look for reproduction
Evolutionary theory Clarke and Male and female student researchers went on campus to
Heartfield ask random students 3 questions:
1) Will you go out with me tonight?
2) Will you come home with me?
3) Will you have sex with me?
50% of students said yes to going on a date
But 0% of females said yes to sex whilst 75% of males did
Both concepts of intra and inter sexual selection shows
that males are more likely to sleep with as many women
as possible whilst women are picky and selective
Evolutionary theory - Singh Males show reference for body shape that signals fertility
waist to hip ratio - hourglass shape, smaller waist and larger hips
Males generally find any hip to waist size attractive long
as the ratio of one to the other is about 0.7
It's an honest signal that a woman is fertile and not
pregnant
By Rhea M.
, Evolutionary theory Criticisms Criticised as legitimising a double standard between men
and women
Suggest men are more likely to have sex than females
Sexual di erences may be exaggerated - example of alpha
bias
Can be seen as socially sensitive - findings could be a
justification for shaming women for their sexual
behaviour
ET does not explain homosexual relationships and
preference for homosexual partner
Self disclosure Altman and Social penetration theory
Taylore Found appropriateness of disclosure was important
If someone disclosed lots of personal info at early stage of
relationship they were rated as less likeable and attractive
- could be seen as having poor social skills
Onion metaphor - breadth and depth
Self disclosure Reis and Shaver Reciprocity
When someone discloses something personal about
themselves, they expect their partner to reciprocate with
understanding or sympathy
Respond in a rewarding way
If they disclose something personal and doesn't get
anything back, its damaging to trust, likely to share less
and less as they dont get anything back
Dissolves the trust
There needs to be a balance of self disclosure, increases
intimacy and trust in relationship
Self disclosure Spreecher and Longitudinal observational study and watching couples
Hendrick self disclosure on dates
Men and women had similar levels of self disclosure
As self disclosure increased, so did relationship
satisfaction
Felt more satisfaction, love and commitment
Positive correlation
Suggests self disclosure is reciprocal and higher levels of
SD linked to level of attractiveness felt towards partner
(W) Lack of causality
correlational can't see cause or thinks
Could be the other way around, more attraction cause
more self disclosure
May be third factor to increased attraction and disclosure
By Rhea M.
Topic Name(s) Research
Evolutionary theory Buss Surveys in 33 countries and 10,000 adult asked questions
related to age and attributes
Women placed higher value of resource related
characteristics and males valued reproductive capacity
(looks, younger)
Findings reflect sex di erences in male strategy due to
anisogamy and supports predictions about partner
preference derived from sexual selection theory
(S) Applied to vast cultures and eliminated ethnocentrism
Evolutionary theory Dunbar and Conducted content analysis of 900 personal dating ads
Waynforth and used 4 newspapers from USA
Lonely Hearts 42% of males look for youthful mates in comparison to
25% of females
Men more likely to emphasise economic status and
women emphasise their looks
Discovered that women tended to describe themselves in
terms of physical attractiveness and youth (‘exciting,
flirty, curvy’)
Men, on the other hand, advertised their resources and
intelligence more than women did
Supports evolutionary theory of females being attracted
to wealth and men look for reproduction
Evolutionary theory Clarke and Male and female student researchers went on campus to
Heartfield ask random students 3 questions:
1) Will you go out with me tonight?
2) Will you come home with me?
3) Will you have sex with me?
50% of students said yes to going on a date
But 0% of females said yes to sex whilst 75% of males did
Both concepts of intra and inter sexual selection shows
that males are more likely to sleep with as many women
as possible whilst women are picky and selective
Evolutionary theory - Singh Males show reference for body shape that signals fertility
waist to hip ratio - hourglass shape, smaller waist and larger hips
Males generally find any hip to waist size attractive long
as the ratio of one to the other is about 0.7
It's an honest signal that a woman is fertile and not
pregnant
By Rhea M.
, Evolutionary theory Criticisms Criticised as legitimising a double standard between men
and women
Suggest men are more likely to have sex than females
Sexual di erences may be exaggerated - example of alpha
bias
Can be seen as socially sensitive - findings could be a
justification for shaming women for their sexual
behaviour
ET does not explain homosexual relationships and
preference for homosexual partner
Self disclosure Altman and Social penetration theory
Taylore Found appropriateness of disclosure was important
If someone disclosed lots of personal info at early stage of
relationship they were rated as less likeable and attractive
- could be seen as having poor social skills
Onion metaphor - breadth and depth
Self disclosure Reis and Shaver Reciprocity
When someone discloses something personal about
themselves, they expect their partner to reciprocate with
understanding or sympathy
Respond in a rewarding way
If they disclose something personal and doesn't get
anything back, its damaging to trust, likely to share less
and less as they dont get anything back
Dissolves the trust
There needs to be a balance of self disclosure, increases
intimacy and trust in relationship
Self disclosure Spreecher and Longitudinal observational study and watching couples
Hendrick self disclosure on dates
Men and women had similar levels of self disclosure
As self disclosure increased, so did relationship
satisfaction
Felt more satisfaction, love and commitment
Positive correlation
Suggests self disclosure is reciprocal and higher levels of
SD linked to level of attractiveness felt towards partner
(W) Lack of causality
correlational can't see cause or thinks
Could be the other way around, more attraction cause
more self disclosure
May be third factor to increased attraction and disclosure
By Rhea M.
