CHAPTER 12: ATTRACTION, INTIMACY AND LOVE

 

1.         Become familiar with what causes a person to be attracted to another - noting the mere exposure effect and homophily.

 

2.         Specify the influence on interpersonal attraction of such factors as similarities matching phenomenon, physical appearance, proximity, and playing hard to get, and describe how the research on these factors was conducted.

 

3.         Learn that technology has created new ways to meet partners on line along with some of the potential ramifications of these exchanges.

 

4.         Describe Byrne’s Law of Attraction research that supports the notion that relationships are based on rewards and punishments.

 

5.         Indicate the gender differences in what makes one desirable as a date and a mate based upon the sexual strategies theory from sociobiology.

 

6.         Understand the nature and the value of intimacy as a major component in relationships.

 

7.         Recognize the importance for self disclosure for relationship building.

 

8.         Know the three theories of love: triangular theory, attachment theory and a biochemical perspective.

 

9.         Comprehend Sternberg’s triangular theory which includes: intimacy, passion and commitment or decision.

 

10.       Incorporate the attachment theory of love into your awareness which includes three styles of attachment: secure, avoidant, and anxious-ambivalent lovers.

 

11.       Describe the alternative choices that we have in dealing with our own jealousy.

 

12.       Learn about passionate and compassionate love from the biochemical perspective.

 

13.       Describe Bershied and Walster’s two-component theory of love and indicate the extent to which research has supported their hypotheses.

 

14.       Review cross-cultural research about the impact of culture on how people view love, on when people fall in love and on the importance of love in the decision to marry.