Describe and evaluate research (theories and/or studies) into the formation of relationships

AO1-Theory of formation-The reward/need satisfaction model by Byrne et al

-Reward/need satisfaction theory suggests that we become attracted to people who evoke positive feelings as they provide direct reinforcement through operant conditioning.

-If the presence of an individual leads to a positive outcome, they will be perceived as more attractive. We are thus more likely to repeat these behaviours towards that individual, leading to the formation of a relationship.

-We also become attracted to people who are associated with positive events through classical conditioning.

-People who are associated with these positive events acquire positive value, increasing our attraction to them. For a relationship to commence & succeed, positive feelings should outweigh negative feelings.

AO2/AO3-Zajonc (1968) supporting the rewards and need for satisfaction theory.

- conducted a lab experiment which predicted the more time spent with one another, the more one another liked each other. He found that the longer spent with someone the more they liked them and the more they found them psychically attracted. -This supports the theory's factor of close exposure being rewarding and as an explanation into the formation of a romantic relationship, and thus increasing the internal validity of the theory.

-Cultural bias-it does not account for cultural differences in the formation of relationships. Many cultures, for example, are more focused on the needs of others rather than receiving rewards.

- Griffitt & Guay provided support for the idea that we like some individuals because they provide direct reinforcement. Participants were evaluated on a creative task by an experimenter & were then asked how much they like the experimenter. The rating was highest when the participant was highly evaluated (i.e. rewarded) by the experimenter, showing that direct reinforcement can lead to attraction.

AO1-Similarity Theory

-According to this theory similarity between individuals stimulates liking and this leads to the formation of a romantic relationship.

-People first sort potential partners for dissimilarity so individuals are able to avoid those who appear to be too different from them. This makes us attracted to those of similar personalities and attitudes rather than those with dissimilar features.

AO2/AO3-studies to investigate the formation of romantic relationship=laboratories. Results lack mundane realism, done under artificial settings. Though, the similarity theory and the dissimilarity repulsion hypothesis have been supported by Caspi and Herbener (90) whose study had high mundane realism as they conducted it on real-life.

-Rosenbaum (1986) suggested that dissimilarity rather than dissimilarity was more important factor in determining whether a relationship will form. Studies such as Singh and Tan (2002) showed that as the participants got to know each other better, those who discovered dissimilarities more than similarities became less attracted to each other