PSY 331 1st EditionFinal Exam Study Guide Chapter 9- Affiliationo Social Comparison and Social Exchange- Social Comparison Theory: theory that proposes that we evaluate our thoughts and actions by comparing them with those of others.According to Festinger, social comparison is most likely when we are in a state of uncertainty concerning a relevant self-aspect. - Social Exchange Theory: theory that proposes that we seek out and maintain those relationships in which the rewards exceed the costs.  Focuses more closely on the interactions between people.  People are basically hedonists—they seek to maximize pleasure and minimize pain, and to doso at minimal cost. The theory also states people will be attracted to those who best reward them. - Affiliation desires are also associated with central nervous system arousability and brain activity related to the experience of positive and negative emotions. Arousability is the habitual degree to which stimulation produces arousal of the central nervous system. - Situational factorso Proximity – we form bonds with people who are physically close  Couples were more likely to get married the closer they lived to one anothero Mere exposure hypothesis: proposes that repeated exposure to something or someone is sufficient, by itself, to increase attraction. This effect also helps in explaining why you can become attracted to someone through the Internet’s electronic proximity. The increased use of electronic mail and Internet chat rooms provides people with the opportunity to be “virtually close” to others without ever physically meeting. o Anxiety-inducing events – desire for social comparison attracts us to similarly anxious others We can use similarly anxious others as a comparison standard for how we should react “Misery appears to love only miserable company”- We like attractive peopleo Stereotypes of physically attractive people  Better personalities, happier lives (not true…mostly) A meta analysis revealed that there was no apparent relationship between physical attractiveness and intelligence, dominance, self-esteem, and mental healtho Body size  Men tend to be more attracted to a woman with a .7 waist to hip ratio, which means that the woman’s waist is smaller than the hips, which is a biological indicator that the woman is young, fertile and not pregnant Preference related to food supply: Heavy women are favored in cultures where availability of food is highly unpredictableThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.o Facial attractiveness Universal standards: People prefer faces to which the right and left sides are well matched, or symmetrical- Evolutionary argument: Symmetry generally indicates physical health and lack of genetic defects- Perceptual argument: Our perceptual system can process symmetrical stimuli more easily than asymmetrical stimuli- In 37 countries around the world…o Women preferred faces slightly older than themselveso Men preferred faces slightly younger than themselves Gender differences- Immature facial features enhance female attractiveness- Mature facial features that are related to social dominance enhance attractiveness in males- We like similar otherso Matching hypothesis – people are attracted to others who are similar to them  Demographics, attitudes, and physical attractiveness- We like people who like us- Problems with social interactions:o Social anxiety – unpleasant emotion due to concern w/ interpersonal evaluation Can be the reason for why we may occasionally/frequently avoid social interactiono Loneliness – having smaller social network than desired  A subjective experience, and it explains what we think and feel  Is not synonymous with being alone or in solitude: can feel lonely when in a crowd or when alone Research has shown that lonely and non-lonely people do not differ in the quantity of their social interaction, but rather in the quality of such exchanges.  Chronically lonely people tend not to trust other people, partly explaining why they spend more time with strangers and acquaintances and less time with friendsand family than those who are not lonely.  Many studies have identified the young adolescents and young adults as the loneliest age groups. Chapter 10- Intimacy: sharing that which is inmost with others In intimate relationships, we seek to psychologically expand ourselves by acting as if some orall aspects of our partner are part of our own selves.  The degree to which our partner is included in our self-concept is an indicator of our level of relationship intimacy. - Self-schemas: one way in which intimate relationships reflect the inclusion of the other in the self-concept is in what constitutes self-concept ingredients, or self-schemas. Research comparing the self-schemas of strangers, friends, and married couples has found that as the intimacy bond deepens between two people, they begin to incorporate some of the others self-schemas into their own self concepts.- Types of relationships:o Exchange relationships – decide whether to maintain relationships by weighing costs & rewards Governed by concern for equityo Communal relationships – based on principle that people should be given what they need, regardless of what we get in return Governed by responsiveness to the other’s need  In intimate relationships, we treat our loved ones’ needs as if they were our own, with little to no tallying of costs. - Attachment o Strong emotional bond between infant & caregiver o Continues into adulthood  Considered to be the cornerstone for all other relationships in the child’s life Implications for how people behave in close relationshipso Four adult attachment styles  Working models of self & others  Secure- Positive model of self (high self-esteem) and others (high interpersonal trust)- Believe that people are basically loving and trustworthy; therefore they experience low anxiety and low avoidance in their social relationships- Securely attached adults easily become close to others, expect intimate relationships to endure, and handle relationship conflict constructively bydiscussing problems and forgiving occasional transgressions Dismissing-avoidant- Positive model of self, negative model of others- Have little faith in people, and avoid intimacy.