Psych 3110 1st EditionExam # 5 Study Guide Lectures: ALLIntimate RelationshipsSummary of Chapter: This chapter discuss the importance of relationships, how to distinguish (intimate) relationships, and certain things that effect intimate relationships.Importance of RelationshipsHuman beings are very social species. We all tend to need others more than we realize. Imagine yourself on vacation all alone with no other people to communicate with. When we lack the presence of others it generally seems to be a punishment for us. That is why being put in time out, or more seriously, solitary confinement are considered to be punishments for us humans. These same intimate relationships that we need can bring us joy as well as sorrow.Distinguishing RelationshipsIntimate relationships have several components. The points below will give each component as well as what they mean.Knowledge: In intimate relationships couples tend to “get to know each other”. They gain knowledge and tend to open up sharing confidential details about their lives. This information includes history, preferences, feelings, and desires. Care: Intimate partners also care more for each other. This meaning that they show each other more affection than they would a neighbor or classmate. Interdependence: Couples also influence each other. These influences are frequent, strong, diverse, and enduring. The behavior of one partner will affect the other as well. Mutuality: In this component, the two began to see themselves as “WE” and not “I or ME”. This is the point where they are noticing the overlap in the relationship.Trust: In intimate relationships, there is an understanding that one will treat the other with fairness and honor. Commitment: Lastly, these partners expect for their relationships to continue indefinitely. Time, effort, and resources are all put into the relationships to make sure that it continues on.Effects of Intimate RelationshipsSources of ChangeWe have norms in society that govern our relationships. These norms are influenced by the economy, individualism, technology, and the sex ratio.Economy: During this time, the economy tolerates more single individuals. This meaning that a 60 year old man saying that he has never been married is acceptable and not as shocking as it may have been 40 years ago. There is also supportfor more divorces. It is now set where you don’t have to have a reason for wanting to exit a marriage. People marry and split when they feel it’s not going to work. Women arenow also more capable than ever before to obtain their own resources leading them to be less dependent. Lastly, cohabitation has had a great effect on the increase of the divorce rate. Individualism:Individualism supports self-expression. For an example, children are now given more unique names by their parents. Self-realization has been influenced as well leading couples to expect more pleasure and delight and less work and sacrifice.Technology:Technology has several effects on relationships. The most thought of are texting and social media. These forms of technology lead us to make those whom are not around us more important than those who are. It also leads our spouse to always think that we should be available. Other forms of technology include abortion clinics and procedures as well as sperm banks. These result in women bearing fewer children, and men having several unknown children. Sex Ratio:This count is the number of men for every 100 women. When the sex ratio is high there are more men than women resulting in society being more conservative. When the sex ratio is low, there are fewer men than women. Attachment StyleRelationships are also influenced by our own personal history. Our childhood past with our caregiver results in humans falling into a category of an attachment style. These categories are known as secure, preoccupied, (anxious-ambivalent), (avoidant), fearful, and dismissing.Secure: Children who received constant care and protection from caregivers formed the secure attachment style. They bond with others, can rely on others, and trust others. (Anxious-Ambivalent):Those that had caregivers who showed interest every now and again developed this form of attachment. They are nervous, clingy, and are extremely needy in relationships. (New name became preoccupied) (Avoidant):Children with avoidant style had rejecting and hostile caregivers. They withdraw, has suspicion of others, and tend to be angry at others. (New name became both fearful and dismissing) Preoccupied: This style is the same as anxious-ambivalent. It was renamed because those who nervously depend on others become worried about the status of their relationships causing them to become preoccupied. Fearful:This style has the same concept of avoidant. The name was changed due to people fearing rejection from others even when they wanted to be liked.Dismissing:This style also has the same concept as avoidant. These people feel as if being alone is best. They do not care whether or not people like them. Individual DifferencesThe difference in the individual may also influence an intimate relationship. There are four different types of differences: sex differences, gender differences, personalities, and self-esteem.Sex: There is not much overlap between men and women. People tend tothink that mean and women have different approaches to intimacy. Some differences are real but they are not statistically significant. People differ amongst themselves regardless of sex.Gender:Gender roles are behaviors expected from men and women. About 35% of us don’t fit those roles as we have both masculine and feminine traits. This is called being androgynous. Researchers often use the terms instrumental and expressive to referto masculine and feminine. Personality:The big five personality traits are openness to experience (imaginative and assertive vs unimaginative and stodgy), extraversion (assertive vs cautious), conscientiousness (dependable vs unreliable), agreeableness (compassionate vs selfish), and neuroticism (anxiety and anger). Extraverted, agreeable, conscientious people have happier relationships. The most important trait is neuroticism. Those who are neurotic have negative impacts on their relationships. Self-Esteem:What we think of ourselves depends on the connections we have to others. The sociometer measures the quality of our relationships. When others like us we like ourselves better resulting in high self-esteem. When