The reward/need satisfaction theory suggests that people form romantic relationships because they feel they are rewarded by being with that person. The things we find rewarding tend to reflect our unmet needs, for example the need for company or financial security. Mutual attraction occurs when each partner meets the other person’s needs. One person might have the need for financial security, while another craves company. Stimuli that is rewarding produces positive feelings in us, and stimuli that is punishing produces negative feelings.
Therefore, the presence of an individual produces positive reinforcement as they have a more attractive appeal. This theory also suggests that we are attracted to people if we meet them whilst we’re in a good mood, an example being at a party. As a result, previously neutral stimuli become positively valued as they are associated with the pleasant event, therefore meaning that we learn to like people through classical conditioning. Griffit and Guay (1969) conducted a study to investigate how the reward/need satisfaction theory works and how well it is acceptable. Participants were evaluated on a creative task by an experimenter.
If someone likes, respects or admires another it is because they are trying to please that person. Some people have referent power even though they are not in formal leadership because of their charisma, likeability and emotional effect on
Drawing on appropriate evidence from chapter 5; describe how groups can influence people in positive and negative ways. This essay will explore how membership of groups can influence people both in positive and negative ways, and how being a "member" can influence people's thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Firstly, it will explain what it is that coheres people together initially by individual identity and when people share something in common, they are attracted to each other. Secondly, by being part of a group, how this can have a positive effect on people by promoting a sense of belonging, and finally, the negative side of how it can influence people into acting in a way they would not normally do so. The similarities that people share are the main factor that people adhere to each other.
These people are the ones we consider to be potential partners. We start with social variables such as race or class. We then move to more individual and internal values such as personality. For social variables we are likely to seek similarities whereas for internal values it may be more important to seek complimentary characteristics. There are 5 characteristics of the Filter Model that are highlighted as being important in the filtering process, these are: Proximity, Physical attraction, similarity, complimentary and competence.
We may also be negatively reinforced by an individual helping us in our ‘time of need’. Both are said to increase our liking. We also find people rewarding through association. For example, if we met someone when we are in a pleasant mood we may
For example, people may find it meaningful to view themselves according to their sex, race, culture, weight, religion and so on. Prejudice can be learned through direct instruction, modeling, and other social influences on learning as seen by the social cognitive theory. The best way to overcome prejudice is to learn about people who are different than you in multiple ways. Additionally, the best way to learn about people is to have direct contact with them and get to know them on a personal level. Intergroup contact is where people from different lifestyles live, work, and study together.
Social Psychology PSY/400 University of Phoenix Social Psychology Social psychology is taking the theories and applications of psychology and applying it, not on an individual alone in the world, but on how that individual interacts, thinks, feels, and behaves in a particular social situation. There are plenty of things that an individual might not have done if he or she had not been in the situation he or she were in with the people he or she were in it with. The way that most individuals interact with the world has to do with the perceptions others around them have about them, and the perception he or she have of themselves. Social psychology seeks to understand how this social dynamic makes a difference in psychology. Define
Signature Themes RelatorRelator describes your attitude toward your relationships. In simple terms, the Relator theme pulls you toward people you already know. You do not necessarily shy away from meeting new people—in fact, you may have other themes that cause you to enjoy the thrill of turning strangers into friends—but you do derive a great deal of pleasure and strength from being around your close friends. You are comfortable with intimacy. Once the initial connection has been made, you deliberately encourage a deepening of the relationship.
Myers (2010) provides an example as to how behavior is shaped by social influences making humans social creatures, “We speak and think in words we learned from others (Social psychology, p. 7). At times social environments or situations manipulate behaviors contrary to emotions, overpowering feelings and allowing the situation to guide behaviors. Another ideas of social psychology is that personal attitudes and depositions shape behavior, this describes the belief that inner attitudes and personalities