Carroll Chapter 7

Love & Attraction

Attraction

• Physical attraction key component– Universals

• Clean skin, teeth, hair, muscle tone, steady gate

– Vast cultural differences – Slender in US v. plumpness in preliterate societies

– Central Africa: long necks, round lips

– Gender & individual differences• Women like tall men

• Men like short, slender women w/ large breasts

• Preferences developed via unique learning histories

Attraction

• Gender-roles key– Feminine women attracted to masculine,

dominant men– Masculine men prefer demure women

• Names key– Kathy, Jennifer > Gertrude, Ethel

• Why?

Pheromones

• Hormones which evoke instinctual behavior– Male dogs R to bitch in heat

• May be important for humans as well– New research suggests smells impact sexuality

• Vomero Nasal Organ

Attraction

• Long-term relationships– Honesty, fidelity, warmth, emotional stability– Gender differences

• Men emphasize physical appearance > than women

• Women emphasize resource acquisition (status)– Evolutionary v. social/cultural explanations

Attraction

• Matching hypothesis– Attracted to partner of similar attractiveness– More than beauty

• Race, age, SES, religion

• What about attitudes?

• Do opposites attract?– Similarity in attitudes -> attraction– Only for key attitude objects/domains– Why?

Attraction

• Evolutionary theory - similar others more likely to share our genes– Like, protect our own genes

• Consensual validation - consensus is pleasant– Confirms our view of the world

Love

• Emotion– What is emotion?

Nature of Emotions

• Multidimensional, adaptive response system – Physiological (ANS, limbic system)– Conscious (valence + arousal)– Behavioral (coping)– Cognitive (appraisals)

• Synchronized emotional system– Patterning different for different emotions

• Anger: ANS, Negative valence and high arousal, move against, unjustified loss

Love

• Emotion characterized by– 1.) Physiological arousal (ANS)

• Hypothalamus, endorphins, phenylethylamine(PEA), testosterone, dopamine, serotonin

– 2.) Positive valence + high arousal– 3.) Approach behavior

• Intense longing for union, closeness & intimacy

– 4.) Positive, idealized evaluations, appraisals– 5.) Attachment, bond to love object

Love

• Ubiquitous in ~all cultures– ~All Janus Ps reported love is important– Most will be in love during their lifetime (Class: 85% yes)

– Love key for marriage and > 90% marry

• Culture influences meaning, display rules– Western world idealizes love, for marriage– Eastern cultures love less critical for marriage

• Arranged marriages

Contemporary Models of Love

• Sternberg’s triangular theory of love– Intimacy

• Experience of warmth toward another person

– Passion• Intense romantic or sexual desire for another person

– Commitment• Dedication to the relationship

• Types of love depend on balance of these 3

Sternberg Triangular Theory

IntimacyIntimacy

PassionPassion CommitmentCommitment

ConsummateLove

Conclusion

• Attraction influenced by physical appearance as well as host of other factors– Gender, culture

• Love is an emotion that likely evolved to aid child-care– Cultural meanings, and models differ in their

emphasis