PSY1PAC 2024 Semester 2 Lecture 7 PDF

latrobe.edu.au PSY1PAC Introductory Psychology: People and Culture Lecture 7: Relationships and Attraction Readings...

latrobe.edu.au PSY1PAC Introductory Psychology: People and Culture Lecture 7: Relationships and Attraction Readings: Readings: Yuki & Schug (2020, pp.129-130) – prescribed Kito et al. (2017, pp.114-123) – recommended Dr Ben Chun Pan Lam Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy [email protected] La Trobe University CRICOS Provider Code Number 00115M  Acknowledgement of country La Trobe University acknowledges that this event and our participants are located on the lands of many traditional custodians in Australia. We recognise that Indigenous Australians have a continuing connection to land, water and community, their living culture and their unique role in the life of these regions, and value their unique contribution to the University and wider Australian society. We are committed to providing opportunities for Indigenous Australians, both as individuals and communities through teaching and learning, research and community partnerships across all our campuses and online. We pay our respects to Indigenous Elders, past, present and emerging and extend this respect to any Indigenous participants joining us online today. Part 1. Learning Objectives Differentiate between the four forms of social interaction Explain how proximity and similarity influence attraction Understand relational mobility, and how this concept can be used to explain cultural differences in ○ The similarity-attraction effect ○ The role of physical attractiveness ○ The views of friendship and enemyship PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 3 Basic Relational Models All relationships are based on one or more of the four basic forms of social interaction (Fiske, 1991) Communal sharing Authority ranking Equality matching Market pricing PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 4 Communal Sharing Members of a group emphasise common identity Everyone treated equally Resources pooled for everyone, available to group Example: members of a family pexels PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 5 Authority Ranking People ordered in a linear fashion in a social hierarchy Higher rank has more privilege and prestige Lower rank entitled to protection and care from above Example: military pexels PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 6 Equality Matching Based on balance and reciprocity Record keeping tracks what is exchanged People take turns paying back Examples ○ Exchanging Christmas cards and presents, carpooling, etc. ○ Rotating credit association in Africa, Asia, Caribbean (Fessler, 2002) pexels PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 7 Market Pricing Based on proportionality and ratios Benefits exchanged on a single dimension, usually money Exchange usually occurs at one point in time and different kinds of goods can be exchanged Example: buying and selling in a pexels marketplace PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 8 Basic Relational Models Universality All relationships should follow one/more of these four basic models All four models operate in relationships in all known cultures Cultural variability Market pricing more common in individualistic societies Equality matching emphasised more in traditional subsistence societies Authority ranking more common in hierarchical class-based than in egalitarian societies Communal sharing more common in India than in the US (Miller et al., 2014), and extends beyond family relationships PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 9 Basic Relational Models Much research in industrialised societies, nuclear family Cultural variability in models of kinship ○ Who is a parent? A brother? A cousin? Growing amount of research on relationships with animals and environment ○ The idea of “All my relations” ○ You can learn more in PSY1HAE pexels PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 10 Mechanisms of Attraction How do people become drawn to each other? Potential mechanisms ○ The Propinquity effect ○ The Similarity-attraction effect image link PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 11 The Propinquity Effect People are more likely to become friends with people they see frequently (Festinger et al., 1950) ○ Very powerful ○ Operates through the mere exposure effect Mere exposure effect = more we are image link exposed to someone/something, more we like it, because of familiarity PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 12 The Propinquity Effect Culturally universal Japanese and Americans like those who interact most often (Heine & Renshaw, 2002) Generalise to nonhumans (e.g., chickens; Zajonc et al., 1975) pixabay PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 13  image link Opposites attract? VS Birds of a feather flock together? image link PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 14 The Similarity-Attraction Effect (SAE) People are attracted to those who are most like themselves SAE long thought to be a universal… Largely limited to Western cultural image link contexts Not shown in chickens PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 15 SAE across Culture European Canadian and Japanese students briefly met same- gender participant, went to different rooms to complete a personality or demographic survey (Heine et al., 2009) Shown other’s response, but indeed bogus feedback ○ 20%, low-similarity condition ○ 80%, high-similarity condition Rated liking for other person (e.g., How much do you like this person) PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 16  Degree of similarity High similarity Low similarity 5 Canadians showed strong evidence of SAE in terms Liking for Other Person 4 of personality or social background (left 2 bars) 3 Japanese much less affected by similarity with the other person (right 2 bars) 2 Canada Japan PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 17 SAE across Culture Another study comparing European Americans vs. Japanese (Schug et al., 2009) ○ Rated similarity of themselves and their closest friend on a list of attributes ○ Japanese perceived themselves and their closest friend to be less similar than did Americans In conclude, SAE is present in many other cultures, but strongest in the West/North America What explain such difference? PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 18 Relational Mobility (RM) How much freedom and opportunity a society affords for interpersonal relationships and group memberships (Yuki & Schug, 2012) pixabay PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 19 High Relational Mobility Cultural contexts in which people have flexible ties and many opportunities to form new connections Relationships tend to be chosen, on a mutually voluntary basis If a current relationship is not satisfying, one can move on easily and form new ones People motivated to strengthen relationship and commitment, because other options easily available in a more open relationship market More common in North America, Latin America, Western Europe (Thompson et al. 2018) PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 20 Low Relational Mobility Cultural contexts in which people have few opportunities to form new relationships, are bound by commitments and obligations to existing ones Relationships viewed as stable and perceived to exist naturally regardless of what one does More dependent on circumstances (e.g., family’s existing network); personal preference/liking less important More common in East and Southeast Asia, North and West Africa, the Middle East (Thompson et al. 2018) PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 21 Relational Mobility across Culture High RM cultures tend to be individualistic/independent, whereas low RM cultures tend to be collectivistic/interdependent ○ Exceptions: e.g., Latin America (high RM, high interdependence) People from individualistic cultures value autonomy and independence, though they engage more actively in close relationships ○ In high RM cultures, many relational options, important to invest effort into maintaining a desired relationship (Kito et al., 2017; Yuki & Schug, 2020) PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 22 Relational Mobility and Similarity-Attraction In high RM cultures, more opportunities for starting new relationships ○ Attracting potential new relationship partners more important ○ People pay more attention to features that make someone attractive, e.g., similarity in personality ○ Having a broad network of potential partners allows one to find like-minded others In low RM cultures, relationship networks are relatively stable ○ Characteristics that attract people less useful PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 23 Tyranny of the Beautiful Physically attractive people may have more positive life outcomes (e.g., success, well-being, more friends) Often assumed that physically attractive have other positive characteristics (e.g., kind, intelligent) Also known as the halo effect (Kaplan, image link 1978) PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 24 Tyranny of the Beautiful Attractive children rated as smarter and better behaved by teachers (Clifford & Walster, 1973) MBA graduates in the US (1973-1982) ranked on 5-point attractiveness scale (Frieze et al., 1991); each one-unit increase associated with… ○ +$2600/year increase in salary for men ○ +$2150/year increase in salary for women Attractive defendants less likely to be convicted, lower bail set (Downs & Lyons, 1991) PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 25 Physical Attractiveness across Culture Most research on the “tyranny of the beautiful” conducted in contexts with high RM May not emerge in places with low RM Study of university students in Ghana and the US (Anderson et al., 2008) ○ More-attractive Americans → greater satisfaction with lives & friendships ○ More-attractive Ghanaians → less satisfaction with lives & friendships In low RM cultures, preference and liking less important, so is PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 26 attractiveness Nature and Meaning of Friendship Friendship is universal, however, nature and meaning of friendship vary across high and low RM cultures Americans tend to have more friends than people in other cultures (e.g., Ghanaians, Chinese; Adams & Plaut, 2003; Fung et al., 2001) Americans more open to forming new pexels friendships; have a casual attitude toward forming friendships PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 27 Nature and Meaning of Friendship Ghanaians perceive friendships as involving more obligations than do Americans and have a more cautious attitude toward forming friendships (Adams, 2005) ○ Similar to Chinese (Li et al., 2015) Ghanaians consider that someone with many friends as foolish (Adams, 2005) ○ A person with many friends means having many obligations need to be fulfilled (despite of potential benefits) PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 28 Friends and Enemies Beware of friends. Some are snakes under grass; Some are lions in sheep’s clothing; Some are jealousies behind their facades of praises; Some are just no good; Beware of friends. Kyei & Schreckenbach (1975) What would you think if a roommate/colleague had this poem hanging on the wall? PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 29 Friends and Enemies Frequency of enemyship (Adams, 2005) ○ 71% of Ghanaians reported having enemies ○ 26% of Americans reported having enemies Source of enemyship (Adams et al., 2004) ○ Ghanaians viewed enemies more often from ingroups (e.g., neighbours, friends, relatives) ○ Americans viewed enemies more often from outgroups PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 30 Relational Mobility and Enemyship High RM cultural context ○ People choose who will be ingroup members ○ Potential enemies can be avoided Low RM cultural context ○ Less likely to have a choice of ingroup members; need to stay in a relationship even if they don’t like it ○ Enemies hard to avoid, likely come from own group ○ People show a desire to understand enemies, instead of a desire to avoid them (Li et al., 2018) PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 31 Simpática/o In many Latin American cultures Emphasising maintaining harmonious relationships, expressive displays of hospitality and congeniality (Sanchez-Burks et al., 2000) Achieving this state viewed as intrinsically valuable Leads to smoother social interactions (Holloway et al., 2009) People spend time socializing with others, expect interactions dominated by positive social behaviors (Ramirez-Esparza et al., 2009; Triandis et al., 1984) PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 32 Part 2. Learning Objectives Describe cultural differences in the priority of couple and parental/family relationships and relationship standards Explain how romantic love is understood in different cultures PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 33 Who Sleeps by Whom? Let’s imagine… a family with 3 bedrooms The family is composed of Mother Father 3 Sons aged 15, 11, 8 2 Daughters aged 14, 3 How will you arrange the rooms? PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 34 Option 1 MF 88% of US Americans D14 D3 47% of Orissa Indians S8 S11 S15 selected this arrangement The ‘Sacred Couple’ Prominent and central role Option 2 of couple in family M F D3 relationships in American D14 S8 culture S15s S11 47% of Orissa Indians Couple relationship as selected one of these separate from other Option 3 two arrangements F S8 relationships M D14 D3 S15 S11 (Shweder et al., 2003) PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 35 Burning House Dilemma Imagine that today when you go home, you find that your house is quickly burning down. Your spouse and mother are asleep in two separate rooms. They cannot escape the fire themselves and cannot survive without your help. If you could save only one, whom would freepik you save? PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 36 Everyday Situation as Comparison Today you are driving to an appointment. Your spouse and mother each call and ask you to do a small favour for them. They each ask you to pick up an item at two different stores. You can only help one of them. Whom would you help? pexels PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 37 Whom would you save/help? Comparing responses of European American and Taiwan Chinese married individuals (Wu et al., 2016) Mother Spouse Life-or-death Situation Everyday Situation 100% 90% 80% Chinese more likely to 70% 60% save/help their mother 50% in both life-or-death 40% and everyday situations 30% 20% 10% 0% US Taiwan US Taiwan PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 38 Beliefs about the Priority of Marriage European American Strong cultural norm to help the spouse in the life-or-death situation; everyday situation is discretionary Taiwan Chinese Moral obligation to help the mother in both situations Belief that spousal relationship more important than parental relationship is culturally specific PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 39 Filial Piety Respect and obligation toward parents (Ho, 1996; Yeh & Bedford, 2003) ○ Gratitude toward parents’ sacrifices and care ○ Obligation to respect and obey parents First and most important quality of a good person in traditional Chinese culture influenced by Confucianism Mature when one is able to provide for one’s parents PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 40 Filial Piety Essential to understanding relationships in East Asian cultures Relationship between children and parents remains central after marriage and throughout life ○ Chinese less likely than Americans to develop a firm boundary between the couple and their parents (Epstein et al., 2005) ○ Extends to relationship with parents-in-law and other elder family members PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 41  PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 42 Relationship Standards “… beliefs about the characteristics an intimate relationship … should have.” (Epstein & Baucom, 2002, p.72) Individuals endorse different relationship standards Can also reflect cultural values of the society in which individuals are raised freepik PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 43 Construct Example COUPLE BOND Demonstration of Love Express love for each other in words everyday (e.g., say ‘I love you’) Western and Chinese Demonstration of Care Attend to each other’s needs (e.g., care for relationship standards in the partner when they are sick) Australian context (Hiew et al., Intimacy – Expression Tell each other about their private thoughts 2015) and ideas Intimacy – Responsiveness Ask each other about their thoughts and feelings Found two sets of standards FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY Couple Bond Relations with Extended Family Respect their parents, regardless of whether they agree or disagree with them; do not Family Responsibility disagree with family elders Upholding Face Avoid doing things that might lower others’ opinions of their partner or the couple Maintaining Relationship Harmony Do not speak about things that may lead to conflict Fulfilling Gender Roles The man financially supports his partner and children Relationship Standards across Culture Couple Bond reflects individualistic values ○ Romantic love and psychological intimacy more central to a couple relationship ○ Seen as meeting the needs of self-expression and discovery Family Responsibility reflects collectivistic values ○ Interdependence of family members emphasised throughout the lifespan, even after one gets married ○ Prefer a spouse with orientation toward extended family (e.g., look after parents, get along well with each other’s family; Lam et al., 2016) ○ Importance of family approval (Zhang & Kline, 2009) PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 44 Relationship Standards across Culture Comparing European Australian and Hong Kong Chinese couples (Halford et al., 2018) ○ European Australian endorsed Couple Bond more than Chinese ○ Chinese held stronger beliefs in Family Responsibility Couple Bond rated as important despite cultural differences ○ Associated with higher relationship satisfaction ○ Universally desired relationship characteristics? PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 45 Romantic Love Proposed as evolutionary adaptation to ensure resources and protection for children (Fisher, 2004) Strong evidence for universality Clear support in 89% of cultures/societies (Jankowiak & Fischer, 1992) pixabay PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 46 Elements of Love Relationships Cultural variation in elements of love relationships ○ Sternberg’s (1986) Triangular Theory of Love Intimacy: feelings of closeness and connection Passion: physical attraction and sexual desire Commitment: decision to maintain the image link loving relationship PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 47 Intimacy Amount people express and share vary across cultures Western couples report more intimacy, especially in self-disclosure (Marshall, 2008; Ting-Toomey, 1991) In high RM cultures, important to invest in existing relationships, e.g., through self-disclosure (Schug et al., 2010) Intimacy needs met by others in social network in some non-Western cultures (Salter & Adams, 2012; Wu et al., 2016) Confiding in one’s romantic partner essential to intimacy among Westerners (Dion & Dion, 1993), but other components such as kindness may be a universal key to relationship success (Dillon et al., 2015) PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 48 Passion May be universal in romantic relationships, but may not play an equally strong role everywhere Westerners report more passion for romantic partners than East Asians (Kline et al., 2008; Yamada et al., 2017) Relationship satisfaction based more on passion among Westerners than among East Asians (Ng & Chen, 2010) Stronger passion may partially emerge from greater opportunities to form new relationships outside the current one (Yamada et al., 2017) In high RM cultures, passionate love serves as the glue that keeps couple together PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 49 Commitment Stronger in Asia than in many parts of the West (Lin & Rusbult, 1995) Stronger among Asian Canadians who identify with heritage culture than those who do not (Marshall, 2010) Divorce rates correlate with individualism and relational mobility (Lester, 1995; Thomson et al., 2018) PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 50 Arranged and Love Marriages Love marriages: love a necessity More common in cultures with nuclear family structures Love is the “glue” that holds the marriage together (less social pressure from extended family) pixabay PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 51 Arranged and Love Marriages A study of undergrad students in 1995 (Levine et al., 1995) “If a man (woman) had all the other qualities you desired, would you marry this person if you were not in love with him (her)?” India & Pakistan ~50% Yes Thailand ~20% Philippines & Mexico ~10% Australia, England, the US, Brazil ~5% image link PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 52 Arranged and Love Marriages Arranged marriages organised by families rather than the couples themselves Historically majority of marriages worldwide, relatively common in some cultures, e.g., India Prevalence has been dropping in many cultures Common in cultures with strong extended family ties (Lee & Stone, 1980) Marriage seen as an intersection of two families, not just of two individuals PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 53 Arranged and Love Marriages Arranged marriages may clash with common Western ideas about love and marriage image link You will only love someone you’ve chosen yourself An individual knows who’s the best partner for them A marriage needs to be built on love to be successful Often viewed very negatively in the West PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 54 Are Arranged Marriages Satisfying? Decisions made by those who know the individuals well Most arranged marriages become loving relationships with time On average, arranged marriages often more satisfied than (or at least as satisfied as) love marriages (Blood, 1967; Gupta & Singh, 1982; Hortacsu, 1999; Shachar, 1991; Xu & Whyte, 1990) ○ Turkey, Israel, India, Japanese men, Chinese men ○ NOT for women in China and Japan PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 55 Further Reading on Arranged Marriages (not examinable) de Munck, V. C. (1998). Lust, love and arranged marriages in Sri Lanka. In V. C. De Munck (Ed.), Romantic love and sexual behavior: Perspectives from the social sciences (pp. 285-300). Praeger. What is the role of “romantic love” in this system of arranged marriages? PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 56 Practice Question 1 In-class activity (no pre-lecture spoilers) PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 57 Practice Question 2 In-class activity (no pre-lecture spoilers) PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 58 Week 8: Thanks for your active participation! Emotion Dr Matt Ruby PSY1PAC Lecture 7 Page 59