1.4.1 Cognitive explanation for relationship formation

Question 1

How can schemas be applied to relationship formation

Answer 1

The packets of knowledge we have about other people (our schema) may govern how we feel and act towards people

Question 2

What did Dion et al find about schemas and relationship formation

Answer 2

• Demonstrated that people believe that physically attractive people also have attractive personal qualities

Question 3

What is the effect Dion et al found called

Answer 3

Halo effect

Question 4

Explain the Halo effect

Answer 4

If we percieve a person to be physically attractive, we may also think of them having good qualities (kind, caring etc) and we may become interested in forming a relationship with them

Question 5

What are self-schemas

Answer 5

Refer to how we feel about ourselves and these are important in relationship formation

Question 6

How can internal mental processes be related to relationship formation

Answer 6

• Essential in perception and self perception
• Self-perception is the beliefs we have about ourselves and perception is the view we have of others
• The way we believe others to be determines whether we desire to enter a relationship with them

Question 7

Give an example of how Internal mental processes are involved in relationship formation

Answer 7

If you start talking to a stranger at a party, your perceptions, based on first impressions of them, will influence whether you want to be in there company again

Question 8

How is memory an important internal mental process in relationship formation

Answer 8

• If we have positive memories of past relationships we may be driven in forming new ones.
• However if our memories are negative and we remember being hurt, we may be very reluctant to form new relationships even with people who we like

Question 9

What is the matching hypothesis

Answer 9

• An explanation for relationship formation
• According to the matching hypothesis, how we percieve ourselves in terms of physical attractivness will influence who we want to engage in relationships with
• Attracted to those who we feel match us in terms of physical attraction