Question 1

Jon feels like he isn't a good enough husband to his wife, Kate. According to the trust-insurance system, he is likely to

Accepted Answer

According to the trust-insurance system, when someone feels they are not fulfilling their role in a relationship, they are likely to engage in restorative actions to make up for it. This is because they want to rebuild their partner's trust in them and thus, restore the balance in the relationship. Therefore, Jon is likely to go out of his way to benefit Kate through restorative actions, in order to compensate for his perceived inadequacy as a husband.

Question 2

The average, general outcome that an individual expects in a relationship is called the

Accepted Answer

The comparison level refers to an individual's expectation of the outcomes they will receive from a relationship. It is the average, general outcome they expect to receive, such as love, support, and companionship. This can vary from person to person and can be influenced by cultural, personal, and situational factors. The other options - intimacy level, investment level, and self-disclosure level - refer to other aspects of relationships, but do not specifically refer to an individual's expectations about the outcomes of a relationship.

Question 3

Bruce and Pam have just started dating. According to social exchange theory, their relationship is likely to last longer and be more satisfying if they each feel that

Accepted Answer

According to social exchange theory, individuals are motivated to maintain relationships in which the rewards outweigh the costs. Therefore, the relationship between Bruce and Pam is more likely to last longer and be more satisfying if they feel that the rewards gained from the relationship are greater than the costs of maintaining the relationship. If the rewards and costs are equal, or if the costs outweigh the rewards, they may be less likely to continue the relationship.

Question 4

Zachary is unhappy in his relationship and is trying to decide whether to break up with his girlfriend. Which of the following factors might encourage him to stay?

Accepted Answer

If Zachary's investment in the relationship is high, he may be less likely to break up because he has put a lot of time and effort into the relationship and may not want to lose what he has invested. This is an example of the sunk cost fallacy, where people feel they need to continue with a situation because of the resources already invested in it. A, B, and D are factors that could encourage Zachary to leave the relationship. If his comparison level for alternatives is high, he may feel there are better options available to him. If his comparison level is high, he may feel that his current relationship is not meeting his expectations. If his costs for staying are high, such as emotional stress or physical harm, he may feel it is not worth staying in the relationship.

Question 5

According to social exchange theory, an outcome from a relationship will produce satisfaction if it falls above a person's

Accepted Answer

Social exchange theory suggests that people evaluate their relationships based on the outcomes they receive, meaning they compare the rewards (positive experiences) and costs (negative experiences) of the relationship. The comparison level is the standard used to evaluate these outcomes. If the outcomes of a relationship exceed a person's comparison level, they will be satisfied with the relationship; if the outcomes fall below their comparison level, they will be dissatisfied. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

Question 6

According to social exchange theory, an individual's primary motive in establishing and maintaining relationships is

Accepted Answer

Social exchange theory posits that individuals engage in relationships in order to maximize rewards and minimize costs. These rewards and costs can be tangible or intangible, but the overall goal is to optimize the ratio of benefits to drawbacks in a relationship. Therefore, choice A is the most accurate answer.

Question 7

Which of the following is consistent with the evolutionary account of mate selection?

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary psychology suggests that women offer beauty as it signals fertility, while men offer wealth as it signals the ability to provide resources, aligning with reproductive strategies.

Question 8

Equity theory predicts that people are most satisfied in their relationships when the

Accepted Answer

Equity theory suggests that individuals are most satisfied in a relationship when the rewards and costs experienced by one partner are roughly equal to those experienced by the other partner. This theory emphasizes the importance of fairness and balance between partners in terms of what they contribute to and receive from the relationship.

Question 9

Consider Buss's study in which he examined what people from 37 different cultures around the world prefer in a romantic partner. Which of the following statements about the results of this study is accurate?

Accepted Answer

Buss's study found that in most countries, men rated physical attractiveness to be more important than women did, while women rated good financial prospects as more important than men did. The other statements are not supported by the study.

Question 10

Benedict is very committed to his relationship with Beatrice. Given this, it is likely that

Accepted Answer

Benedict's commitment to his relationship with Beatrice suggests that he values his relationship and desires it to continue. To enhance the likelihood of this, he is likely to engage in behaviors that increase Beatrice's trust in him. This could include being trustworthy, loyal, and communicating openly and honestly with her.

Question 11

Which of the following most accurately represents differences in mating preferences?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following most accurately represents...

Question 12

Although she cheats on him, Abdul stays with his girlfriend because he doesn't think he would be able to find anyone better. Abdul has a(n)

Accepted Answer

Abdul's decision to stay with his cheating girlfriend despite her behavior suggests that he does not have a high comparison level for alternatives. This means that he does not believe he can easily find someone better, which makes him willing to tolerate his girlfriend's behavior.

Question 13

An analysis of Yahoo personal ads demonstrated that

Accepted Answer

The analysis of Yahoo personal ads showed that men of all ages sought younger women, women of all ages sought income status information, and women were more likely to seek men who were older, but only up until age 75. Therefore, all three options are correct.

Question 14

Marcie and Karl have been married for several years. Marcie is unhappy in her marriage and is trying to decide whether or not to leave Karl. Which of the following would encourage her the most to leave the marriage?

Accepted Answer

Marcie's comparison level for alternatives being high means that she sees other options outside of her current marriage that could potentially make her happier. This would encourage her to leave the marriage in search of a better situation.

Question 15

Within the framework of social exchange theory, satisfaction in relationships is a function of all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Investments are not a primary component of social exchange theory; the theory focuses on rewards, costs, and comparison levels to determine relationship satisfaction.

Question 16

Eastwick and Finkel (2008) examined men's and women's preferences during a speed dating event. They found significant gender differences in what men and women reported as important mate characteristics before the event began-differences that _________ once they actually started interacting with thepotential mates at the event.

Accepted Answer

The passage states that there were significant gender differences in mate preferences before the speed dating event, but the question is asking what happened to these differences once the participants started interacting with potential mates at the event. The answer is C because the passage states that these differences disappeared once the actual interactions began.

Question 17

Roshumba is conducting a study of married couples. She interviews a number of couples about how their relationships developed. It is likely that she will find that

Accepted Answer

Every relationship is unique and develops in different ways. While there may be some commonalities in the stages that couples go through, there is no fixed sequence that all couples follow. Additionally, the timing and order of stages may vary between couples. Therefore, Roshumba is likely to find considerable variability in how the couples' relationships developed. The other answer choices are incorrect because there is no fixed sequence of stages, couples may experience the value stage before or after the role stage, and relationship rewards are often linked to feelings of being in love.

Question 18

Unlike social exchange theory, equity theory suggests that

Accepted Answer

Equity theory suggests that individuals are not solely focused on maximizing their personal reward or benefit in a relationship, but rather seek a sense of fairness and balance. This acknowledges that social relationships are not solely based on economic exchanges, but also have emotional and subjective components.

Question 19

Joshua is attracted to Daniel because of his warm eyes and great smile. Daniel is attracted to Joshua because of his muscular body. Joshua and Daniel are in Murstein's

Accepted Answer

The stimulus stage is the initial stage of attraction where one is drawn to another based on physical appearance, demeanor, or other observable attributes. In this scenario, Joshua's attraction to Daniel is based on his warm eyes and great smile, which are physical attributes. Similarly, Daniel's attraction to Joshua is based on his muscular body, which is also a physical attribute. Therefore, they are in the stimulus stage of attraction.

Question 20

A "trust-insurance system" in a relationship is when

Accepted Answer

A trust-insurance system in a relationship refers to both partners keeping an unconscious tally of the relationship's costs and benefits in order to maintain equity. This means that both partners trust each other and the relationship, but they also make sure that they receive a fair share of the benefits and do not feel over or underbenefited. They do this by constantly monitoring the relationship's balance and making adjustments if necessary to prevent one partner from feeling taken advantage of.

Quiz 9: Attraction and Close Relationships