What are the three dimensions of intimate relationships?
Intimate relationships can be divided into three independent dimensions: intimacy (reflecting a sense of closeness, connection and tightness), commitment (reflecting support for the other person and the desire to maintain the relationship), and passion (reflecting the feeling of falling in love).
What is the key feature of intimate relationships?
The key feature of intimate relationships is reciprocity, which is an important characteristic of all intimate relationships.
How does the “lover’s eye effect” work?
There are two hypotheses explaining the “lover’s eye effect”:
- The diversion hypothesis: Being in love makes you lose interest in other potential mates.
- The attention hypothesis: You focus your energy on your beloved, leaving no time to pay attention to others.
Studies show the attention hypothesis is more accurate. Being in love distracts you and leaves you no energy to pay attention to other potential mates.
What is the triangular theory of intimacy, passion and commitment?
Based on different combinations of intimacy, passion and commitment, intimate relationships can be categorized into 8 types:
- Romantic love: high passion and intimacy but no commitment
- Companionate love: high intimacy and commitment but no passion
- etc.
What are the consequences of a bad relationship?
Bad relationships increase people’s risk of depression.
Why do humans need engagement rings and surname change?
Rituals like engagement rings and surname change signify mate ownership, resolving the uncertainty of paternity that males face. These rituals take different forms across cultures.
What is the primary function of oxytocin?
Oxytocin enhances bonding between people. It accelerates the development of relationships through some physiological mechanisms, helping people take the first steps of falling in love. But its effects are short-lived.
What role does dopamine play in intimate relationships?
Dopamine produces the thrilling feeling in the early stages of falling in love, not oxytocin. Dopamine can also enhance people’s confidence.
How to increase endorphin release?
Any muscular pressure or pain can stimulate the release of endorphins, such as massage, combing hair, and any behavior that establishes physical contact. Endorphins can quickly improve mood.
What are the criteria for building an intimate relationship?
The 6 criteria are:
- Age
- Physical attractiveness
- Social status and wealth
- Social skills
- Shared interests
- Commitment
Why do women all like Mr. Darcy types?
- Women prefer men high in both status and resources.
- Men are most competitive in their early 40s, and at this stage they often overestimate their desirability.
- Women conceal age cues after their peak fertility years.
Why do men take charge of hunting?
- Successful hunting demonstrates men’s strength and hunting skills.
- Boys have higher mortality rates and engage in more dangerous activities.
- Hunting is a display, not just for subsistence.
Which physical traits affect mutual attraction?
- Symmetry: signals high genetic quality
- Waist-hip ratio: signals women’s reproductive capacity
- Height: taller men are more attractive
- Skin color: darker skin represents high testosterone
These and other physical traits are processed automatically in the brain, influencing attraction.
What is most important for maintaining intimate relationships?
The most important factor is continued investment of time. Intimacy correlates with frequency of contact. Relationships deteriorate without continued investment.
How do kinship and friendship differ?
- Kinship requires less maintenance.
- Intimacy of kinship is unrelated to frequency of contact.
- Friendships weaken without regular contact.
- Men maintain friendships through shared activities, women through communication.
Why is social rejection more painful for women?
Social exclusion and physical pain activate the same brain regions. Women are more sensitive to social rejection, possibly because women need more stable social bonds to ensure offspring survival.
How do women and men differ in building intimacy?
- Women’s relationships are more fragile and hard to repair once broken.
- Men maintain friendships through shared activities, women through communication.
- Women care more about the relationship itself, men care more about shared activities.
What are the high risk periods for relationship dissolution?
High risk periods are 2-4 years and 10+ years. Three years is an important watershed.
Why can idealization increase relationship satisfaction?
The less realistic people’s expectations, the higher their relationship satisfaction. Some degree of illusion helps sustain intimate relationships.
Why is rejection more painful for women than men?
Social and physical pain activate the same brain regions. Women are more sensitive to social rejection, possibly because women need more stable social bonds to ensure offspring survival.