Exam 7: D: Developing and Maintaining Relationships

People who are considered to be attractive are also often considered to be more intelligent, kinder, and warmer than those who are not.

Recent research has effectively disproven the social exchange theory, in part, because today most of us base our relationship choices on "chemistry" rather than on costs and rewards.

A relationship could be doomed from the moment we meet the other person if our expectations are unrealistic.

Experts say that once a relationship reaches the declining stage, it has deteriorated beyond the point where there are effective strategies for repairing it.

We tend to be more comfortable interacting with others when we perceive their behavior as predictable.

Online relationships tend to be less deep and less intimate than traditional face-to-face relationships.

Research indicates that perceptions and definitions of love differ greatly in Western cultures as compared to Eastern cultures.

Although it is natural for people to desire to keep some information about themselves private, the refusal to disclose personal information prevents a relationship from moving to a more intimate level.

Intimate romantic relationships can only be achieved once the partners give up their desire to keep deeply personal information about themselves private.

Dialectical tensions are a sign of an unhealthy relationship that is transitioning into the declining stage.

Choosing to disclose deeply personal information, such as past sexual experiences, too early in a relationship can have a negative impact on the relationship's development.

It is normal for the partners in a romantic relationship to feel the need to be close and connected to each other while also feeling the need to be independent and have some time away from the relationship.

People tend to prefer forging relationships with others who are different from themselves over forming bonds with people whom they perceive as similar to themselves.

Because family relationships are our first and most basic relationships, it is within them that we learn basic communication skills that affect how we interact with others later in life.

Andrew has a membership at a fitness center that permits him to bring a guest with him when he goes to exercise. His friend David often goes as his guest because he can't afford to join a gym at this time. Andrew's ability to provide this opportunity to David would be considered an intrinsic reward to David.

The only effective way for us to gain predictability and reduce uncertainty in our relationships is to be upfront and ask our partners for the information we want.

Children who form successful friendships do better behaviorally and academically than those who do not.

Bonding is an early sign that a relationship is headed toward intimacy.

Cultural norms contribute to our choices about what information to talk about versus what we choose to keep private on a first date.

Money is one of the most common reasons why couples fight, and differences in perception about money can present a significant challenge to both romantic relationships as well as friendships.