relationships may change or end Analyze why...relationships may change or end Lynn and Daeun Love? Love is a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes that ranges from interpersonal

Analyze why relationships may change or end

Lynn and Daeun

Love?Love is a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes that ranges from interpersonal affection to pleasure. It can refer to an emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment.

Analyze:Break down in order to bring out essential elements

Triangular theory of love (1986)

Sternberg suggested the triangular theory of love with three components that many psychologists believe are important in close relationships

1. intimacy: feeling close, connected, and bonded2. passion: romance, physical, and sexual

attraction3. commitment: desire to maintain the relationship

in spite of adversity and costs

Partners begin to develop an interdependent relationship from the beginning of their relationship and they gradually increase their mutual involvement. Successful couples tend to develop more commitment and intimacy over time than less successful couples

Buunk (1998)

According to Buunk, one of the differences between happy and unhappy couples is communication

-Couples are happier when their interaction is characterized by problem solving and open communication

Buunk (1998) Cont. Characteristics of happy and unhappy couples:

Happy Couples Unhappy Couples

Express their feelings openly and disclose their thoughts

Show conflict avoidance

Show affection and understanding of each others’ feelings

Demonstrate soothing (ignoring or covering up differences)

Demonstrate destructive communication

Equity Theory and relationship satisfaction

There must be a balance between two partners in a relationship

-People compare their own gains compared to that of the partner’s and may look for alternatives if they are not satisfied

Investment model of commitment (theory)

Rusbult et al. (1991) suggested the investment model of commitment with the concept of accommodation as an important strategy to maintain a relationship

Accommodation?

When a person is willing to adopt a constructive approach and inhibit the impulse to react destructively when a partner displays destructive behavior. High levels of accommodation are consistently associated with well-being

Murray and Holmes (1997)

Over time partners in committed relationships created “positive illusions” of their partners. The idealization of the partner was positively associated with relationship satisfaction and fewer conflicts. Confidence in the partner seems to foster a sense of trust and security. which in turn promotes accommodation in conflicts.

Sprecher (1999)

Longitudinal study on development of love overtime

Aim: To investigate whether people in close relationships reported increased love overtime and to study how beliefs about relationships could change

Procedure

1. Self-selected sample of 101 heterosexual student couples that were surveyed 5 times over 4 years

2. Questionnaires to measure love, commitment, and satisfaction 3. Asked to report changes since previous surveys

Results

Satisfaction had decreased the most in the groups of 101 heterosexual students.

● People end their relationships because of dissatisfaction rather than decrease in love

Evaluation

Study was conducted only in the US, so it may not be possible to generalize the findings to the whole population

Sources

http://www.appsychology.com/IB%20Psych/IBcontent/Options/HumanRelationships/Rel8.htm

http://ibpsychrevision.blogspot.com/p/relationships.html

https://enjoypsych.wikispaces.com/Analyse+why+relationships+may+change+or+end.?responseToken=643fd28e13397fa9cfb61fcd46410526