INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS - ATTRACTION - COGNITIVE THEORIES OF ATTRACTION (Markey and Markey, 2007)
25 important questions on INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS - ATTRACTION - COGNITIVE THEORIES OF ATTRACTION (Markey and Markey, 2007)
What were the control variables in the study?
- Relationship duration: all couples in Study 2 had been together ≥1 year.
- Sexual orientation: all couples heterosexual.
- Measurement tools: same questionnaires used for both partners.
What evidence strengthens the overall findings in the studies?
- Study 1 (ideal partner) and Study 2 (actual couples) provide converging evidence -> (different sources that point to the same conclusion).
- Both partners surveyed in Study 2 reduce single-reporter bias.
- Study 2 used actual dating couples, giving good ecological validity.
- High reliability due to standardized questionnaires.
How were participants recruited for Study 2?
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How is "similarity" complex to calculate in the study?
- Similarity measured by comparing self-descriptions (more susceptible to social desirability bias)
- Not just a "match or mismatch."
- Important traits (values) vs. minor traits (hobbies).
- Complementarity (e.g., dominant + easygoing) is harder to quantify.
What are the limitations of the opportunity and volunteer sample?
- Unrepresentative; chance characteristics (accidental traits a sample happens to have due to the people who were avaliable) may explain results
- Example: Students who volunteer may be more relationship-focused.
What was the aim of Markey & Markey (2007) study?
Why is relationship satisfaction considered subjective?
- Participants rated "happy" or "loving" relationships.
- Different ideas of "very happy."
- One's "5/10 satisfaction" might be another's "8/10."
Why might the WEIRD sample be a limitation?
- Likely mostly white, young, university students from one area.
- Low external validity for older, non-student, non-Western, or LGBTQ+ couples.
What questions did both partners answer in the questionnaire in Study 2?
- Their own personality traits
- Their partner’s personality traits
- Their relationship satisfaction
Explain how there is a cognitive explanation for attraction and romantic love.
A cognitive explanation of attraction and romantic love is that people are drawn to partners who fit their expectations and beliefs, and they tend to use schemas to focus on their partner’s positive qualities while ignoring the negative ones, strengthening attraction.
What sampling method was used in Markey & Markey (2007)?
- Study 1: Large group of undergraduate students (sample size not specified, recruited via university).
- Study 2: 106 heterosexual couples (212 participants total).
- Sampling technique: Opportunity sampling combined with volunteer sampling.
- Recruitment: Newspaper advertisements and posters around the university.
What is a limitation of quantitative data according to IB Psychology resources?
- Quantitative questionnaires give numbers but not reasons.
- Example: "60% similarity" doesn't explain trait importance or complementarity's role in harmony.
What is the risk associated with self-report questionnaires?
- Risk of social desirability bias.
- Participants may over-report similarity or satisfaction to look good.
What is the similarity attraction model?
Describe the research method used in Markey & Markey (2007).
- Compared participants’ self-descriptions with "ideal partner" descriptions.
- Compared participants’ self-descriptions with actual partner’s traits and reported relationship satisfaction.
What did Study 2 confirm about partner attraction?
How does social desirability bias affect accuracy?
- Participants could've described themselves more socially acceptable, reducing internal validity of the study. (e.g., "I'm very warm and my partner is too").
Why can't causality be claimed in the correlational design?
- Cannot claim causality (e.g., does similarity cause happiness, or do happy couples become more similar over time?).
Why does similarity increase attraction according to the similarity attraction model?
- Social Validation: Drawn to people who reinforce our existing beliefs and boost confidence.
- Reduced Uncertainty: Interacting with similar individuals reduces social and cognitive uncertainty.
- Communication: Similar interests, values, beliefs enhance communication and make interaction smoother.
What is a limitation regarding the type of couples studied?
- Findings may not apply to same-sex relationships or other relationship structures.
What were the variables in Markey & Markey (2007) study?
- Independent Variable (Predictor): Level of similarity between partners (personality, values, attitudes).
- Dependent Variables:
- Perceived ideal partner traits (Study 1)
- Actual partner traits (Study 2)
- Relationship satisfaction (happiness, love).
What was a key finding about happy couples?
What is the limitation of the cross-sectional design in Study 2?
- Study 2 measured satisfaction at one time point.
- Cannot track how similarity and satisfaction change over time.
What was the conclusion about partner differences?
Why are self-reported traits difficult to quantify?
- Self-reported traits are subjective.
- Participants rated their own and ideal partner's personality using adjectives.
- Words mean different things to different people.
- No objective standard for adjectives like "dominant."
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