Describe and Evaluate two theories of the formation of romantic relationships Essay

In 1970 Byrne and Clore introduced the reward/ drive satisfaction speculation for the stoolation of dealingships. They suggested that we argon attracted to individuals whose presence is reward for us, and that naturally we come stimuli rewarding if it figures an unmet need the more rewards close to integrity provides for us, the more we should be attracted to them. They believed that the formation if relationships was linked with the idea of innocent and operant conditioning, with operant conditioning we atomic number 18 worryly to repeat behaviours that leads to a worthy outcome and avoid behaviours that lead to unwanted ones, so we enter the relationships because the presence of more or less individuals is directly touchd with reinforcement, making us be in possession of positive feelings, which makes them more attractive to us.For clean conditioning, we tend to prefer pot who we abetter _or_ abettor with idyllic event, so for example if we meet someone somewhe re where we atomic number 18 having a good time, then we will associate this person with this good time and find them more attractive in the languish run. Byrne and Clore believed that the balance between positive and ostracize feelings in a relationship was critical as relationships where the positive outweigh prejudicious feelings were more likely to develop and succeed.Griffitt and Guay (1969), participants were evaluated on a creative task by an tester and then asked to rate how much they want the essayer. The rating was highest when the experimenter had positively evaluated the participants performance on the task. This study supports the subscribe that we like people who are associated with pleasant events. This provides strong support that likeness is master(prenominal) in attraction, unless to a fault highlights common liking also is factor in the formation of relationships however this may non be the only factor influencing this.The experiment was only of an i maginary description, the participant is supposed(prenominal) to truly demonstrate how they feel towards the stranger. The experiment doesnt demonstrate interaction of people, but preferably just presents a didactics about them, which reduces how far conclusions can be drawn. Although similarity may be a factor, how people socially interact is also big to how a personperceives another.In a laboratory experiment, Lehr and Gehr (2006) studied participants of twain sexes to test the importance of reciprocal liking. sagacious that someone likes you is particularly rewarding and so is more likely to end up in mutual liking. Participants were given a description of a stranger, with varying degrees of similarity of the strangers location to the participants. In each description was a statement that the stranger every liked or did not like the participant. Researchers found significant effects for attitude similarity and liking. However this study doesnt adopt ecological validity f rom where it was do in a lab backcloth and didnt reflect real demeanor situation or conditionsHowever Cate et al (1982) asked 337 individuals to assess their current relationships in foothold of reward take aim and satisfaction. Results showed that reward level was superior to all other factors in determining relationship satisfaction, however this guess only explores the receiving of rewards, the results may not be completely accurate though as some people may choose picked the socially desirable answers. These studies all issue natures influence on attraction and that it is to some extent an evolutionary need to have a partner that meets physical requirements.This vex may be very culturally bound as all the studies through with(p) were in the western worlds individualistic cultures. In other cultures one partner may not stomach rewards and may be entirely giving, or arranges marriages will also go against this speculation as the long term is make to happen. For example , Lott (1994) suggests that in many cultures women are more focused on the needs of others rather than receiving reinforcement. This suggests that this theory is not a world(a) explanation of relationship formation and and so culturally biased.However, this theory is supported by another theory on how relationships are formed Byrne, Clore and Smeatons Similarity Theory (1986) states that it is important that people are similar in order to be able to form a relationship. They theorise that there are two stages to deciding who to seek relations with first we sort out the people most dissimilar to us andsecond then seek out those who are most similar. Caspi and Herbener found that in get hitched with couples, those who were the happiest were those with the most similar personality traits.