Notes On Questions For The Final

Here are some notes on the final questions:

1. I'll post each question in a separate post - as you can see below.

2. They are posted in the order and number according to the list Jeff e-mailed to us.
***See right sidebar for quick access to any given question***

3. The easiest way to do this (methinks) is to write your answers as a comment for the given question.

4. It will be easy for anyone at any time to copy and paste the given answers into a WORD document (or whatever) for their own study purposes or it is right there to study right from the blog.

5. I would recommend that no one comment on anyone else's question until the assigned answerer has posted their answer as the first comment. This is just to make clear which comment is THE answer worked up by the answerer.

6. Comments after that point should be fair game and wide open (because you've probably got time on your hands that you don't know what to do with).

7. I have set comment settings as open. In short, anyone should be able to comment without having to jump through hoops. If we start to get spammed, I will place a protection on it - a simple word verification.

***Please, if anyone is having trouble commenting, please contact me gonza181@umn.edu

8. Good luck.

#1

According to Perlman and Duck (2006), social exchange models (e.g., interdependence theory) and person-centered models (e.g., cognitive consistency theories) dominated the study of interpersonal relationships from the mid-1950s through the 1970s. What were the major positive and negative effects of these early theoretical perspectives on the trajectory and content of the field? What theoretical, methodological, and statistical advances beginning in the mid-1980s changed the direction and content of the field? Why were these advances important?

#2

Commitment is a major construct in relationship science. According to Harvey and Wenzel (2006), what are the 3 basic forms (types) of commitment? How is each form/type likely to affect the way in which individuals think, feel, and behave in romantic relationships?

#3

According to the Kelley et al. (1983) model, what defines a “close” relationship? What would be an optimal way to measure the degree of closeness in a relationship?

#4

According to Kelley et al. (1983), what are the 8 basic properties of interdependence? For instance, what is “interchain interference”? Why is it important in understanding closeness? How is it manifested in relationships?

#5

Berscheid, Snyder, and Omoto (2004) propose that three dimensions of closeness exist: (1) behaving close (measured by the RCI), (2) feeling close (measured by the SCI and intimacy scales), and (3) thinking close (measured by the IOS). Is this a good way to conceptualize closeness? Does it make sense to include positive sentiment for a partner in the conceptualization of closeness? What evidence would support the legitimacy of these 3 dimensions as correlated yet independent markers of closeness?

#6

Vanlear, Koerner, and Allen (2006) present a model (Figure 6.2) outlining how major relationship typologies fit within their circumplex model. The model contains Fiske’s (1991) 4 types/models of relating to others. What are these 4 types? How do they fit within Vanlear et al.’s model?

#7

What are Erickson’s (1950) 8 psychosocial stages of development? How are the basic social and interpersonal challenges associated with each stage resolved? Why is this model valuable in terms of understanding relationship patterns/trajectories across the lifespan?

#8

According to Hartup (2006) and Collins and Madsen (2006), what factors in early development predict the formation and functioning of friendships in childhood and adolescence? How do endogenous-change models, social-psychological principles, attachment theory, and/or interdependence perspectives add to our understanding of the emergence of different friendship patterns?

#9

Collins and Madsen (2006) and Blieszner (2006) review evidence that the primary sources of social support for adults are “shifting” and that women are more likely than men to give and receive emotional support. What societal and social factors are contributing to shifts in the sources of support, particularly for the elderly? And what explains the robust gender difference in emotional support?

#10

As described by Rusbult and colleagues (2001, 2006), what is the Comparison Level (CL) and the Comparison Level for Alternatives (CLalt)? What are the 4 types of relationships that can be identified when perceived outcomes fall above versus below CL and CLalt standards? How might these relationships differ from each other?

#11

According to Rusbult et al. (2001), what are the 4 properties of interdependence? How does each property influence the behaviors and interaction patterns of relationship partners? How might perfect “correspondence of outcomes” thwart relationship growth and development?

#12

What are the major outcome transformations (e.g., MaxOwn, MaxJoint) discussed by Rusbult et al. (2001)? How is each one associated with certain transformation of motivation processes in situations in which partners have divergent needs, motives, and outcomes?

#13

According to Holmes (2004), why might short-term reciprocity and the monitoring of what partners exchange actually harm relationships over time? What sorts of personal traits, interpersonal motives, or major life events are likely to exacerbate the negative effects of engaging in short-term reciprocity and quid-pro-quo monitoring across time?

#14

According to Gangestad and Simpson (2000), what is an “evolved conditional mating strategy”? What kinds of environmental factors should motivate individuals to change what they prefer and value in prospective mates?

#15

Why might it be important to consider how evolutionary forces could have shaped mate selection and relationship processes? How might we understand more by contemplating the selection pressures that may have shaped certain relationship processes or phenomena? Provide a concrete example.

#16

According to Simpson, Winterheld, and Chen (2006), how might temperament-based personality traits interact with certain “eliciting” situations to influence social interactions and eventually long-term relationship outcomes? What role(s) might relationship partners play in this process?

#17

Describe the main features of Mikulincer and Shaver’s (2006) adult attachment model. What are the cardinal features of hyperactivating and deactivating strategies? How does each strategy affect the way in which individuals are likely to initiate, consolidate, and maintain close relationships?

#18

Describe the basic features of Murray, Holmes, and Collins’s (2006) risk regulation model. According to the research that they review, what explains the ironic premise that people who crave “felt security” the most may actually be the least likely to achieve it?

#19

According to Caughlin and Huston (2006), what are the four basic models of marital change? What are the main features of each model? How might each model explain a given developmental trajectory toward divorce?

#20

According to Planalp, Fitness, and Fehr (2006), emotions play a major role as power and status signals in relationships. Describe Kemper’s (1984, 1991) model of power and status in social interaction. Explain how different emotions tend to be aligned with each dimension following relational outcomes.

#21

Simpson, Collins, Tran, and Haydon (2007) have found that early relationship experiences are meaningfully connected to the experience and expression of emotions in adult romantic relationships. Describe the general pathway(s) of this model. What do the findings suggest about whether, how, and where in the model developmental “change” is most likely to occur?

#22

Laurenceau and Kleinman (2006) claim that intimacy might be experienced not only by feeling understood, validated, and cared for by one’s partner, but also by providing understanding, validation, and caring to one’s partner. Is the resultant quality/experience of intimacy likely to be the same for each process? How might these two “paths to intimacy” be integrated into an overarching model?

#23

Bolger et al. (2000; see Reis, Clark, & Holmes, 2004) propose that “invisible” support may be more beneficial than visible support in lowering anxiety in recipients, particularly in stressful situations. Under what conditions might invisible support be more beneficial? When might visible support be better?

#24

According to Knapp (2006), what kinds of lies may be beneficial to relationships in certain cases? In which situations might such lies be most beneficial? What role might partners (recipients of the lies) play in eliciting, sustaining, or embellishing them? How do “white” lies differ from positive illusions?

#25

Describe the normative stages through which trust in a close partner may develop
(Simpson, 2007). How might individual difference variables (e.g., attachment styles, self-esteem, self-differentiation) affect each normative stage? Why shouldtrust diagnostic and strain test situations be especially important in the development or deterioration of trust?

#26

Fincham and Beach (2006) suggest that, when assessing relationship satisfaction, one should consider: (a) both positive and negative relationship evaluations, and (b) the trajectory of changes in satisfaction (i.e., whether it is increasing, decreasing, or not changing over time). Why is it important to build these two components into assessments of how and why satisfaction forecasts important relationship outcomes?

#27

As discussed by Ryff and Singer (2000), the expression of negative affect in relationships can occasionally produce “magical moments” in which one partner helps the other partner identify, explore, clarify, or feel better about the sources of negative affect. How might such moments unfold in romantic relationships? What might they look like?

#28

Fletcher, Overall, and Friesen (2006) discuss two major relationship motives: positive illusions (enhancement) and realistic perceptions (accuracy). What empirical evidence suggests that romantic partners display each motive? What is the relation between bias and accuracy in relationships? How might this relation allow people to be both positively biased and accurate?

#29

Canary and Dainton (2006) discuss relationship maintenance in terms of centripetal and centrifugal processes (or analogues). What theory and empirical evidence can be marshaled to suggest that each process operates relationships? How do different theoretical models reflect or map on to each process?

Question #30

According to Rusbult, Olsen, Davis, and Hannon (2001), what is transformation of motivation? What are the major psychological mechanisms or processes that facilitate transformation from selfish “given” tendencies to more partner-centered or relationship-centered “effective” ones? And what fosters the connection between greater commitment and more positive couple well-being?

Notes on Final Questions

Here are some notes on the final questions.

I'll post each question in a separate post. I'll post them in order and number them according to the number on the list Jeff e-mailed to us.

The easiest way to do this is to write your answers as a comment.

It will be easy for anyone at any time to copy and paste the given answers into WORD ar whatever they want.

I would recommend that no one comment on anyone else's question until the answerer has posted their answer as the first comment. This is just to make clear which comment is THE answer worked up by the answerer.

Any quesitons?