Origins+of+attraction

Origins of attraction

 * LO: Examine biological, psychological and social origins of attraction.**

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Evolutionary theories (Choose ONE to discuss in an essay)
Purpose of attraction - procreate - pass on genes to next generation
 * Behaviors that enhance attraction or promote attraction are created through biological correlates (brain structures, neurotransmitters,) because the ultimate goal is survival of the species - hardwired for attraction
 * sweaty t-shirt study

EXPLANATION 1: Evolution and neuromechanisms

 * attraction
 * sex drive
 * attachment

attachment, oxytocin and vassopressin - stay with partner Helen Fisher - love as an addiction - role of ventral tegmental area and caudate comparison of OCD patients with new lovers This would explain
 * reward system
 * fMRI
 * 20 men and women, couples "totally in love" -
 * had to fill in questionnaire - Passionate love scale
 * look at pictures of the loved one and a neutral acquaintance
 * scanned for brain activity
 * Findings
 * increased activity in brain's reward system (see above)
 * extra dopamine within those areas - this system is always activated by something pleasant
 * correlation between brain activity and level of 'passion'.
 * Marazziti **
 * analyzed blood samples for serotonin levels
 * levels within the 2 groups were similar
 * Conclusion**: people are obsessed in the early stages of love
 * always thinking about that person
 * butterflies in the stomach
 * stalking behavior
 * drawing the name of the person you're obsessed with
 * calling and hanging up

Is there a correlation between low levels of serotonin and attraction. This does NOT mean cause. Is this significant? We don't have enough information. __ Sofia's connection __ Perhaps this explains why people who are put on Prozac for depression may leave their partners - perhaps the serotonin levels have resulted in falling out of love. OR maybe it's because they can now think clearly and realize that this is not a relationship worth saving.

EXPLANATION 2: Partner selection based on who will be a good mate

 * Buss (1994) **- identification of 2 aspects of sexual selection
 * 1) male ritual behavior to establish dominance
 * 2) individual characteristics attractive to potential partners eg. male ability to provide for a partner -> ambition


 * Wedekind - ** pheromones - the sweaty t-shirt study


 * Discuss limitations of evolutionary psychology theories.**
 * does not explain homosexuality
 * does not explain why people who do not want to have children are attracted to members of the opposite sex.
 * perhaps the sex drive continues as a primal drive no matter what your psychological outlook may be.

**EXPLANATION 1: Attraction -similarity model**
__Definition?__ We are attracted to people who **//are//** like us - beliefs, attitudes, values, looks __Which studies?__

__Findings?__

__Evaluation of theory?__

**EXPLANATION 2: Reciprocal liking - social exchange theory**
__Definition?__ We like people who //**like**// us and who give us //**positive feedback**// about ourselves __Which studies?__

__Findings?__

__Evaluation of theory?__

Social
[|Body language: fake it til you become it]

EXPLANATION 1: Interaction
We are attracted to those whom we have a positive interaction

This is tied to proximity (a situational factor)
 * We tend to make friends with or enter into romances with people who live near us, that we see most of the time
 * constant interaction can increase attraction (increased exposure)
 * We need to feel connected because we need to belong

__Which studies?__

__Findings?__

__Evaluation of theory?__

Nahemow and Lawton (1975) Festinger - friendship patterns

=Videos= Watch '//Validation//' - Can you see the social factor of '//positive interaction//' or the cognitive factors of //attraction-similarity// or //reciprocal liking// at play here? media type="youtube" key="h5qAe77tnhk" height="315" width="420"

__**Rubin's love and like scales**__ //**Once you have completed the moodle task, put your scores in the correct place in the table**//


 * = ** Participants ** ||||||||= ** Love scale ** ||||||||= ** Like scale ** ||
 * =  ||= **Partner** ||= **Best friend** ||= **Father** ||= **Mother** ||= **Partner** ||= **Best friend** ||= **Father** ||= **Mother** ||
 * = 1 ||= 96 ||= 91 ||= 71 ||= 94 ||= 94 ||= 95 ||= 83 ||= 97 ||
 * = 2 ||= 101 ||= 81 ||= 91 ||= 103 ||= 79 ||= 103 ||= 93 ||= 109 ||
 * = 3 ||= 88 ||= 73 ||= 48 ||= 55 ||= 83 ||= 86 ||= 74 ||= 48 ||
 * = 4 ||= 96 ||= 98 ||= 48 ||= 105 ||= 94 ||= 91 ||= 83 ||= 110 ||
 * = 5 ||= 103 ||= 83 ||= 50 ||= 82 ||= 97 ||= 69 ||= 71 ||= 104 ||
 * = 6 ||= 104 ||= 103 ||=  ||=   ||= 108 ||= 101 ||=   ||=   ||
 * = 7 ||= 86 ||= 83 ||= 82 ||= 90 ||= 90 ||= 89 ||= 80 ||= 80 ||
 * = 8 ||= 86 ||= 83 ||= 82 ||= 90 ||= 90 ||= 89 ||= 80 ||= 80 ||
 * = 9 ||= 77 ||= 92 ||= 71 ||= 75 ||= 73 ||= 93 ||= 83 ||= 110 ||
 * = 10 ||= 90 ||= 91 ||= 96 ||= 98 ||= 87 ||= 91 ||= 85 ||= 102 ||
 * = 11 ||= 94 ||= 89 ||= 92 ||= 105 ||= 86 ||= 95 ||= 110 ||= 102 ||
 * = 12 ||= 77 ||= 98 ||= 95 ||= 101 ||= 76 ||= 90 ||= 94 ||= 97 ||
 * = 13 ||= 64 ||= 85 ||= 93 ||= 89 ||= 80 ||= 92 ||= 104 ||= 98 ||
 * = 14 ||= 96 ||= 94 ||= 84 ||= 94 ||= 94 ||= 91 ||= 92 ||= 94 ||
 * = 15 ||= 52 ||= 67 ||= 72 ||= 93 ||= 58 ||= 80 ||= 86 ||= 99 ||
 * = 16 ||= 77 ||= 81 ||= 75 ||= 84 ||= 90 ||= 94 ||= 98 ||= 97 ||
 * = 17 ||= 102 ||= 87 ||= 72 ||= 69 ||= 89 ||= 94 ||= 104 ||= 102 ||
 * = 18 ||= 72 ||= 73 ||= 57 ||= 54 ||= 73 ||= 67 ||= 96 ||= 78 ||
 * = 19 ||= 63 ||= 86 ||= 85 ||= 88 ||= 84 ||= 105 ||= 104 ||= 107 ||
 * = 20 ||= 95 ||= 82 ||= 79 ||= 97 ||= 92 ||= 102 ||= 81 ||= 106 ||
 * = 21 ||= 96 ||= 86 ||= 70 ||= 94 ||= 99 ||= 102 ||= 88 ||= 110 ||
 * 22 || 91 || 100 || 87 || 106 || 99 || 95 || 109 || 110 ||