PSYC1005 Study Guide - Final Guide: Longitudinal Study
Interpersonal Closeness
• Two broad categories used when defining closeness:
Subjective
Closeness
• The degree of positive affect (i.e. loving and liking) partners have for each other.
o Loving scale, eg: I would do almost anything for [loved one].
o Liking scale, eg: [Friend] is one of the most likeable people I know.
o In a 15 year longitudinal study, self-reports of love were related to relationship
longevity. But love alone was not sufficient.
• The degree of perceived inclusion of other in self.
o How close they would rate their inclusion in relation to their other.
o In one study, the greater the ratings of degree of inclusion of other in self, the
longer lasting was the relationship.
Objective
Closeness
• Closeness refers to the degree of interdependence between individuals.
• Interdependence is the degree to which each individuals' outcomes are influenced by
the other person.
• Or it refers to the effects interacting people have on each other.
Interpersonal Interdependence
• Satisfaction relates to the nature of current outcomes in light of expectations.
• If you are getting less than what you expect then you are dissatisfied, vice versa.
• Satisfaction with a relationship alone is not sufficient to predict relationship maintenance.
o Even satisfying relationships can break up when individuals are not strongly committed.
o An individual can feel strongly dependent on a relationship without feeling especially satisfied
with it.
• Dependence relates to the quality of current outcomes relative to alternatives.
• Satisfaction with dependence = if outcomes are above expectations but expectations are above next
best outcomes.
• Dependence without satisfaction = if expectations are above outcomes and next best outcomes.
o Even if satisfaction level is low, if alternatives are lower than in the current relationship, the
person is likely to stay.
o Even if satisfaction level is high, if alternatives are higher than in the current relationship the
person is likely to leave.
• Satisfaction and dependence together contribute to relationship commitment.
• Commitment is a long-term subjective orientation toward the relationship and represents feelings of
attachment to partner and a desire to maintain a relationship for better or worse.
The Importance of Commitment:
Accommodation
• Accommodation refers to an individual's willingness, when a partner has
engaged in potentially destructive behaviour, to:
- Inhibit tendencies to react destructively in turn, and
- Instead, engage in constructive behaviours.
o Voice: actively and constructively trying to improve conditions.
o Loyalty: passively but optimistically waiting for conditions to improve.
o Neglect: ignoring the partner or spending less time together.
o Exit: actively destroying the relationship.
• University students in relationships asked what they would do if their partners
behaved destructively.
• Open-ended destructive responses (neglect and exit) were predicted directly by:
commitment level, quality of alternatives, satisfaction, and normative support
(do friends approve of your relationship).
• Open-ended constructive responses (voice and loyalty) were predicted by:
commitment level, quality of alternatives and sex (women more likely to engage
in constructive responses).
Relationship
Longevity
• University relationships were studied over the course of the academic year.
• The length of the relationship was predicted by:
o Commitment level, and
o The availability of better alternatives.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
The degree of positive affect (i. e. loving and liking) partners have for each other. Loving scale, eg: i would do almost anything for [loved one]. Liking scale, eg: [friend] is one of the most likeable people i know. In a 15 year longitudinal study, self-reports of love were related to relationship longevity. The degree of perceived inclusion of other in self: how close they would rate their inclusion in relation to their other. In one study, the greater the ratings of degree of inclusion of other in self, the longer lasting was the relationship. Closeness refers to the degree of interdependence between individuals. Interdependence is the degree to which each individuals" outcomes are influenced by the other person: or it refers to the effects interacting people have on each other. Satisfaction relates to the nature of current outcomes in light of expectations. If you are getting less than what you expect then you are dissatisfied, vice versa.
