Deck 14: Attraction and Close Relationships

Question 1

Rhodes and her colleagues reported data indicating that an attractive face was characterised by its:

A) unique features.
B) averageness.
C) sparkling eyes.
D) similarity to a well-known model.

Answer 1

averageness.

Question 2

Newcomb (1961) found that, at the beginning of semester, students experienced liking and attraction towards others as a function of proximity (that is, they liked people who lived close by) however, as the semester progressed, Newcomb found that students' attraction was driven more by:

A) physical attraction.
B) a similarity of attitudes.
C) Intelligence.
D) good dress sense.

Answer 2

a similarity of attitudes.

Question 3

Willingness by each partner in a close relationship to self-disclose is important because it:

A) induces a sense of safety with strangers.
B) increases a feeling of vulnerability in both partners.
C) helps to establish trust and intimacy.
D) helps to build, but not maintain, relationships.

Answer 3

helps to establish trust and intimacy.

Question 4

According to Steve Duck (2008), the most recent research in social nature has been to study:

A) marital relationships.
B) friendship.
C) personal relationships.
D) group memberships.

Question 5

A reason why sharing similar attitudes is thought to lead to attraction is because:

A) similarities make first dates less awkward.
B) when people agree with you, this acts as a positive reinforcement for you.
C) similarities have been proven to result in less arguments.
D) similarities enhance mutual interests.

Question 6

Gangestad and colleagues (2000) conducted a study examining the types of traits that women find attractive in men. They found that:

A) women preferred the smell of t-shirts that had been worn by symmetrical men
B) women preferred the smell of t-shirts that had been worn by non-symmetrical men
C) women only preferred the smell of t-shirts of symmetrical men when they were ovulating
D) None of the above

Question 7

Cara likes Olga because a mutual friend told her that Olga had previously expressed liking for Cara. This exemplifies:

A) the role that rumours play.
B) the balance theory of attraction.
C) reciprocity liking.
D) the complementarity principle.

Question 8

Facial features that are good candidates for biologically-based standards of beauty include:

A) symmetry.
B) a striking nose.
C) eyes set quite closely together.
D) small lobes and cheek dimples.

Question 9

Finding a person more attractive the more we see them is a function of:

A) similarity.
B) the mere exposure effect.
C) the reinforcement model.
D) the gain-loss hypothesis.

Question 10

According to Fletcher and colleagues (2004), which of the following are NOT included in the three 'ideal partner' dimensions for a long-term partner in both men and women?

A) Warmth-trustworthiness
B) Vitality-attractiveness
C) Status-resources
D) Intelligence-refinement

Question 11

A meta-analysis of studies of attraction by Langlois and colleagues (2000):

A) included research that was based on evolutionary principles.
B) rejected all work using qualitative methods.
C) reported that females were generally less attracted to males than vice versa.
D) deduced that the impact of initial attraction soon wore off.

Question 12

According to the evolutionary concept of reproductive fitness, people attempt to guess whether a prospective mate has good genes by assessing:

A) whether they display common interests.
B) whether they have a steady employment history.
C) whether they have a solid family background.
D) whether they display cues indicative of physical health.

Question 13

People who live in close proximity are more likely to be attracted to each other because:

A) it is inconvenient for them to interact.
B) they plan to meet each other every week.
C) interaction makes them more familiar to each other.
D) they share common interests.

Question 14

According to research, attractive people are more likely to:

A) be a nonconformist.
B) have lower intelligence.
C) develop positive self-esteem.
D) be active in sports.

Question 15

In a study of the names of partners prior to marriage, Jones and colleagues (2004) found a tendency for:

A) Smiths to marry Smiths and Joneses to marry Joneses.
B) Smiths to avoid other Smiths.
C) Williamses to prefer Joneses to Smiths.
D) Joneses to change their name by deed poll.

Question 16

According to Gangestad, Garver-Apgar, Simpson and Cousins (2007), when a woman is ovulating and looking for a short-term mate, she is likely to prefer:

A) a man who is compassionate and caring.
B) a man who is competitive with other men.
C) a man who is quiet and sensitive.
D) a man who is creative.

Question 17

We tend to be attracted to people who resemble us with respect to one or more characteristics (such as physical attractiveness, social background and personality). This is known as:

A) the mere exposure effect.
B) assortative mating.
C) attitude similarity.
D) the law of attraction.

Question 18

In a longitudinal study of married couples, Gruber-Baldini and colleagues (1995) found that:

A) children often had a detrimental effect on the relationship.
B) at first testing, couples were similar in age and education.
C) the main predictor of happiness was the beauty of the woman.
D) spouses became less similar over time.

Question 19

With respect to the waist-to-hip ratio of a woman, men prefer:

A) the classic hourglass figure.
B) the post-modern straight-line figure.
C) the athletic figure.
D) the timeless Rubens figure.

Question 20

Betty lives just down the road a little way. Which of the following is the first factor likely to determine if you will become friends with Betty?

A) You think you are likely to bump into her quite often
B) She gradually becomes familiar to you
C) You find it easy to talk with her
D) She passes your 'attraction' test

Question 21

According to Bowlby, when infants try to stay physically close to their caregiver they show

A) attachment behaviour.
B) infantile regression.
C) belongingness.
D) feral syndrome.

Question 22

Kirsten and Johnny have been together for several years. However, recently Kirsten has started to feel that their relationship is inequitable, with her being the victim. In order to restore equity and maintain the relationship she can:

A) restructure her perception of inputs and outcomes.
B) commit to an affair with Billy.
C) assertively tell Johnny how she feels.
D) increase her inputs until Johnny realises the mismatch.

Question 23

In relation to people's affiliative behaviour, O'Connor and Rosenblood (1996) noted that:

A) people also need time to themselves in a regulated way.
B) some tend to push this behaviour too far.
C) privacy is valued even more.
D) affiliation is related to the personality dimension of extraversion.

Question 24

The terms 'comparison level', 'minimax strategy' and 'profit' are terms used in the:

A) theory of cognitive dissonance.
B) equity theory.
C) reinforcement-affect model.
D) social exchange theory of attraction.

Question 25

Spitz (1945) reported that maternal deprivation of babies in an overcrowded institution led to:

A) mental acuity.
B) a low mortality rate.
C) social deficiencies.
D) socially advanced.

Question 26

Which of the following is not a major attachment style?

A) Avoidant
B) Passionate
C) Anxious
D) Secure

Question 27

When equity theory is applied to close relationships, the kind of justice that is most often wanted by a partner is:

A) procedural.
B) blind.
C) distributive.
D) strictly egalitarian.

Question 28

In Sprecher's (1998) study investigating three kinds of relationships-romantic, same gender and opposite gender-the factor most often rated as important was:

A) financial security.
B) intelligence.
C) desirable personality.
D) proximity.

Question 29

A person whose past attempts to be intimate have been rebuffed is likely to have which kind of attachment style?

A) Determined
B) Secure
C) Avoidant
D) Anxious

Question 30

McDougall used the term 'instinct' to describe how people:

A) seek respect and admiration from others.
B) form attachments.
C) gather together.
D) extend attachments to significant others.

Question 31

Harlow (1958) studied newborn rhesus monkeys to investigate:

A) monkeys' preferences for different kinds of peanuts.
B) the importance of a warm ambient temperature in their home cage.
C) the effects of social isolation and deprivation of contact.
D) the mental capacity for learning sign language.

Question 32

Schachter (1959) theorised that affiliation is important and that, in some circumstances, being in the company of someone (even a stranger) can allow us to:

A) overcome depression.
B) reduce anxiety.
C) alleviate hallucinations.
D) feel liked.

Question 33

You hear that although William doesn't like you that much, James does. Then you hear that William has changed his mind and thinks you are wonderful! You decide that you like William more than James. In simple terms, this phenomenon is called the:

A) reciprocity principle.
B) back-door tactic.
C) reinforcement model.
D) gain-loss hypothesis.

Question 34

Studies on self-disclosure and the sharing of intimate knowledge in relationships have shown that:

A) too much sharing can harm a relationship.
B) self-disclosure follows a positive curvilinear relationship.
C) men reveal much more than women.
D) how much people wish to share varies according to gender and culture.

Question 35

Kulik and colleagues (1996) studied pre-operative cardiac patients, finding that they talked:

A) more to nurses than to doctors.
B) more when there was no one was listening.
C) about the weather more than their impending surgery.
D) more to their roommate who was also a cardiac patient.

Question 36

Byrd (1938) lived alone in Antarctica for six months. He reported that he:

A) considered opening a tour business there.
B) experienced hallucinations.
C) made friends with a penguin colony.
D) started painting snow scenes.

Question 37

Kulik and colleagues (1996) studied pre-operative cardiac patients and found that:

A) patients who were not assigned a roommate recovered slower than patients who were assigned a roommate.
B) patients who were assigned a roommate recovered slower than patients who were not assigned a roommate.
C) patients who were assigned a same-sex roommate recovered faster than patients who were not assigned a same-sex roommate.
D) patients who were not assigned a same-sex roommate recovered slower than patients who were not assigned a same-sex roommate.

Question 38

People are happiest in relationships when they believe that the give and take between partners is approximately equal. This argument is consistent with:

A) the reinforcement-affect model.
B) equity theory.
C) balance theory.
D) tit-for-tat theory.

Question 39

Admiral Byrd, who spent six months alone at an Antarctic weather station, reported that:

A) he started to overeat.
B) he felt invigorated.
C) he became depressed and apathetic.
D) he found peace and quiet and solitude.

Question 40

The theory that explains close relationships in terms of a business transaction is:

A) social exchange theory.
B) the need complementarity model.
C) balance theory.
D) the reinforcement-affect model.

Question 41

Hatfield and Walster's (1981) three-factor theory, that love contains a cultural determinant, an appropriate love object and emotional arousal,

A) is part of the normal socialisation process.
B) is a label describing the interaction of the three variables.
C) has been described differently in different cultures.
D) is an all-encompassing structure that applies across cultures.

Question 42

Jane asked Sally 'How could you fall out of love with Harry so easily?' An interesting angle on this is that it probably stems from:

A) Jane being a little too judgemental.
B) Harry obviously not loving Sally.
C) Sally being fickle.
D) Sally initially loving Harry but him not meeting her ideal image.

Question 43

Which of the following is NOT a factor that, according to Adam and Jones (1997), contributes to an ongoing relationship?

A) Personal dedication
B) Moral commitment
C) Constraint commitment
D) Family obligation

Question 44

'Falling in love' can be triggered by such factors as proximity, similarity and reciprocal liking. Ironically:

A) this makes it hard to distinguish from 'falling in friendship'.
B) this applies only to very old people.
C) men are the only ones to fall this way.
D) dogs behave in much the same manner.

Question 45

Meta-analyses have indicated that being in a relationship:

A) increases stress for men.
B) benefits women more than men.
C) increases depression in women.
D) decreases risks of heart attacks and strokes.

Question 46

People who believe in 'love at first sight':

A) are more likely to experience it.
B) jeopardise their first relationship by this illusion.
C) seek short-term relationships.
D) are out of touch with modern social psychology.

Question 47

Which of the following is not one of the variables included in Hatfield and Walster's (1981) three-factor theory of love?

A) A cultural determinant that acknowledges love as a state
B) The presence of an appropriate love object
C) The communication of consensual romantic feelings
D) Emotional arousal self-labelled 'love' that is felt when interacting with/thinking about an appropriate love object

Question 48

Brennan and Shaver (1995) investigated attachment styles in adulthood. They found that anxious adults:

A) reported discomfort in getting close to others.
B) were jealous and lacked willingness to disclose.
C) were usually in stable relationships.
D) tended to fall in love easily.

Question 49

Quentin is completely infatuated with Julie. Although this happened yesterday, and they haven't really had the chance to share intimate thoughts, he decided after eating his breakfast cereal that he was now committed to an everlasting relationship. Our reading of Sternberg (1988) suggests that Quentin's love is:

A) consummate.
B) fatuous.
C) companionate.
D) romantic.

Question 50

Research on marital satisfaction and stability has revealed that:

A) the meanings of marital satisfaction and stability have changed over time.
B) confidence in the relationship is the most reliable predictor of satisfaction.
C) satisfaction is higher when spouses share each other's friends.
D) children can have a positive effect on marital satisfaction.

Question 51

Longitudinal evidence suggests that attachment styles:

A) do not predict academic success.
B) of avoidant women match nicely with secure men.
C) show the same sequence of developmental stages.
D) that are evident in young adults continue through later life.

Question 52

Research into attachment styles in relationships has found that:

A) an attachment style in one relationship does not carry over to another relationship.
B) people's attachment styles are not necessarily concrete.
C) insecure partners may become more insecure if a current partner is secure.
D) enduring relationships is a factor of feeling no threat or guilt.

Question 53

In a longitudinal study of love and marriage by Simpson and colleagues (1986) it was found that:

A) men tended to marry for convenience reasons and women for housing.
B) more people considered marrying without love.
C) young people's willingness to marry without love decreased over time.
D) there was a trend towards finding partners through agencies and advertisements.

Question 54

In comparing 'love' marriages with arranged marriages, Gupta and Singh (1982) found that:

A) there were clear geographical patterns.
B) partners in arranged marriages became more loving of each other over time than partners in love marriages.
C) love marriages were characterised by more pronounced ups and downs.
D) arranged marriages were less likely to be dissolved.

Question 55

In Sternberg's model, romance is exceeded by ________ love.

A) romantic
B) consummate
C) fatuous
D) companionate

Question 56

Passionate love is to logical love as ________ is to ________.

A) storge; agape
B) mania; ludus
C) eros; pragma
D) liking; loving

Question 57

Having trust in others, not being worried about abandonment, believing that one is worthy and liked, and finding it easy to be close to others are all features of which attachment style?

A) Avoidant
B) Anxious
C) Secure
D) Dependent

Question 58

Attachment theory argues that love:

A) is peculiar to western civilisation.
B) occurs only for people who have a secure attachment style.
C) is actually a social construction.
D) includes both biological and social components.

Question 59

Jill, mother of three school-age children, wants to leave her husband who has been mistreating her. However, without his income she could not afford a decent house; nor could she pay for her children's private education. Her decision to remain in her relationship is due to:

A) moral commitment.
B) constraint commitment.
C) spinelessness.
D) a failing social system.

Question 60

Passionate love is:

A) also known as romantic love.
B) only in the mind.
C) the opposite of companionate love.
D) sometimes called mania.

Question 61

The grave-dressing phase in Duck's (1988, 1998) relationship dissolution model refers to:

A) former partners looking for what they believe is a socially acceptable version of the dissolution.
B) putting a tragic interpretation on the break-up.
C) partners negotiating with friends to gain social support.
D) a period of brooding with little outward show, when partners are unhappy and dissatisfied with their relationship.

Question 62

People use various cognitive tactics to maintain a close relationship. They may:

A) play down their partner's virtues.
B) ignore feelings of rejection.
C) expect less from their partner.
D) rationalise their partner's behaviour.

Question 63

People will sometimes rationalise self-concept discrepancies, such as between the ideal self and the actual self. This idea can be extended to how we go about maintaining a close relationship. This process is called:

A) actual-ought self discrepancy.
B) the gain-loss hypothesis.
C) assortative mating.
D) partner regulation.

Question 64

'Voice' behaviour and 'exit' behaviour are two examples of:

A) an active stance in response to the deterioration of a relationship.
B) acts leading to the deterioration of a relationship.
C) events in the grave-dressing phase of a relationship.
D) ways to induce catharsis in a relationship.

Question 65

According to Levinger (1980), which of the following is NOT a factor that heralds the end of a relationship?

A) One partner experiences an existential crisis
B) Alternative partners are available
C) There is an expectation that the relationship will fail
D) There is a lack of commitment to a continuing relationship