Deck 11: Attraction, Love, and Communication

Question 1

The relationship between one's degree of attractiveness and one's dating history can best be summarized by stating that:

A)contrary to expectations, physically attractive women have fewer dates than unattractive women.
B)more attractive people, in general, have more dates than unattractive people.
C)the physical attractiveness of men has no relationship to their dating history.
D)moderately attractive women have more dates than either attractive or unattractive women.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Several studies have demonstrated that people express greater liking for more attractive individuals than for less attractive ones.This phenomenon:

A)is found in people as young as 3 years of age.
B)is not visible until middle school.
C)is nearly absent by the time individuals reach adulthood.
D)is limited to laboratory studies.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Similarity on social characteristics is referred to as homophily.That is, we like individuals who are similar to us because:

A)the old adage, "birds of a feather flock together", is actually an accurate saying.
B)we are least likely to get positive reinforcement from those similar to ourselves.
C)most of us do not have the social skills required to mingle with those who are different.
D)it is more socially acceptable to restrict our social interactions with those who are similar to us.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In the "interpersonal marketplace" of men and women, there is a tendency for:

A)successful women to be paired with attractive men.
B)successful women to be paired with younger men.
C)unattractive men to be paired with wealthy women.
D)attractive women to be paired with wealthy men.

Question 5

The mere-exposure effect refers to the tendency of people to:

A)be attracted to others of the same gender.
B)be attracted to the boy or girl next door.
C)look more frequently at people we dislike.
D)dislike those they see often in our daily lives.

Question 6

Homophily is the tendency of people to:

A)like people whom they see frequently.
B)be attracted to people of the same gender.
C)have contact with people who are equal in social status.
D)be afraid of interacting with people who come from similar backgrounds.

Question 7

According to the mere-exposure effect, you would most likely be attracted to a person:

A)you see only on school vacations.
B)who lives across the hall from you.
C)who lives in a city you visit monthly for office meetings.
D)you see once in a few years or so.

Question 8

According to the study reported by the authors of your text, which of the following correctly states the relationship between men's occupational status and the degree to which women consider them desirable for a date?

A)Men with the least education were at least moderately acceptable to attractive women.
B)The most acceptable men had the highest occupational status.
C)The least acceptable men had high occupational status.
D)Acceptability as a date was unrelated to educational level or occupational status.

Question 9

Which of the following does NOT increase attraction toward someone?

A)Having infrequent contact with that person
B)Sharing similar attitudes with that person
C)Finding the person physically attractive
D)Coming from the same social-cultural background

Question 10

As an upper class businessman, Todd has more contact with other businesspeople, lawyers, and doctors than with janitors, bartenders, or plumbers.This feature of his social contacts can be explained by the concept of _____.

A)ingroup homogeneity
B)homophily
C)the contrast effect
D)the mere-exposure effect

Question 11

Terry is a politically liberal, attractive African-American man with a successful psychiatry practice.He regularly visits the gym where he meets many women.According to the matching phenomenon, to which of the following women would Terry be most attracted?

A)Aisha, an 18-year-old second generation Indian immigrant, who is studying architecture at a prestigious college.
B)Maria, a Hispanic social worker.
C)Jasmine, a liberal African-American woman, who is the first female attorney to be made a partner in the firm where she works.
D)Kathy, a white political activist.

Question 12

Karen is a white, upper-middle class lawyer.She is more likely to have contact with others who are also from the middle and upper-middle class.This phenomenon is known as _____.

A)the matching phenomenon
B)the mere-exposure effect
C)xenocentrism
D)homophily

Question 13

Which of the following variables is associated with the greatest level of homophily?

A)Education
B)Age
C)Sexual orientation
D)Race

Question 14

Brian is more likely to be attracted to Helen, who lives across the hall from him, than Sharon, who is a co-worker he sees once or twice a year at office parties.This phenomenon is known as the _____.

A)mere-exposure effect
B)bystander effect
C)social desirability effect
D)matching phenomenon

Question 15

Hyde and DeLamater discuss a research project in which snapshots were taken of college men and women.Their degree of attractiveness was then judged along with their dating history.As a rule, the largest number of dates occurred among:

A)the most attractive men and women.
B)the least attractive men and women.
C)the moderately attractive men and women.
D)the least attractive men.

Question 16

Terry, an attractive 25-year-old, is interested in dating Brad who is a successful lawyer.Terry is hardly interested in Bill who is a plumber.However, Jill-a less attractive 24-year-old waitress-thinks that Bill would be an acceptable date.Which of the following explains the women's preferences?

A)Matching phenomenon
B)Contrast effect
C)Misattribution of arousal
D)Mere-exposure effect

Question 17

When we examine romantic relationships in which the individuals are similar (homophilous), which of the following social factors has the least homophily?

A)Religion
B)Age
C)Race/ethnicity
D)Education

Question 18

Physical attractiveness is most important to:

A)females evaluating females.
B)females evaluating males.
C)males evaluating females.
D)males evaluating males.

Question 19

Sarah sees her childhood friend, Brett, only during holidays once or twice a year.She sees her colleague, Ashton, almost every day as they commute to work together.Although Brett and Ashton are quite similar in terms of temperament and likes and dislikes, Sarah likes Ashton more than Brett.Which of the following explains this phenomenon?

A)Matching phenomenon
B)Cross-race effect
C)Misattribution of arousal
D)Mere-exposure effect

Question 20

The lyric, "The more I see you, the more I want you," has been substantiated in several research studies as an empirical finding.Which of the following concepts best summarizes the meaning of this lyric in relation to attraction and/or love?

A)The bystander effect
B)Playing hard-to-get
C)Jealousy
D)The mere-exposure effect

Question 21

Research has showed that men in middle-status occupations were considered to be moderately acceptable dates by unattractive women.Which of the following best explains this phenomenon?

A)Attractive women were not desirable to men with middle-status occupations.
B)Unattractive women felt there was a balance between their physical appearance and the middle-status jobs held by the men.
C)Men with middle-status jobs could aspire to and attain high-status jobs leading to greater value in the interpersonal marketplace.
D)Highly successful women preferred dating men with middle-status occupations because they were more loyal and committed than men with high-status jobs.

Question 22

You are a psychologist who is going to measure intimacy in a relationship.Which of the following statements would be an indicator of high intimacy in a relationship?

A)"My partner does not listen to me when I need to talk to someone."
B)"I quite often confide very personal information to my partner."
C)"I only feel close to my partner sometimes."
D)"My relationship with my partner is not that important because I have many good friends."

Question 23

Women, who are highly attractive, are most likely to judge potential partners by the criterion of:

A)sharing a similar socio-cultural background.
B)possessing good looks and physical stature.
C)working in high-status occupations.
D)hailing from the same economic strata of society.

Question 24

Which of the following statements is correct regarding sexual behavior from the sociobiological perspective?

A)Men and women face similar problems in their efforts to reproduce.
B)Men rarely need to identify reproductively valuable women.
C)A physically attractive person is the least likely to be a "better" partner.
D)Younger women are more likely to be fertile, thus "better" partners.

Question 25

In a dating experiment conducted by Byrne and his colleagues, it was demonstrated that interpersonal attraction was greatest toward:

A)physically unattractive others with dissimilar attitudes.
B)physically unattractive others with similar attitudes.
C)physically attractive others with dissimilar attitudes.
D)physically attractive others with similar attitudes.

Question 26

"Our attraction toward another person is proportionate to the number of reinforcements that person gives us relative to the total number of reinforcements plus punishments the person gives us." This statement describes:

A)Byrne's law of attraction.
B)Sternberg's theory of love.
C)the attachment theory of love.
D)the two-component theory of love.

Question 27

In order to maintain intimacy, the correct response by a partner to self-disclosure is:

A)nonresponse.
B)acceptance.
C)criticism.
D)neutral acknowledgement.

Question 28

Which of the following is true about intimacy?

A)The term is applicable to individuals but not to relationships.
B)Intimacy need not be reciprocal in nature.
C)Intimacy and mutual self-disclosure build on one another.
D)Intimacy and trust are mutually exclusive.

Question 29

Toby is a 30-year-old lawyer interested in heterosexual relationships.According to the sociobiological perspective, who among the following people would Toby find most attractive?

A)Geena, an unattractive but wealthy 40-year-old woman
B)Natasha, an attractive 22-year-old woman who is quite poor
C)Jackie, an attractive and wealthy 45-year-old woman
D)Roger, an attractive freelance poet who is 25 years old

Question 30

Expressing empathy is a demonstration of the _____ component of Sternberg's triangular theory.

A)commitment
B)intimacy
C)passion
D)decision

Question 31

In order for a relationship to be intimate:

A)it must have a long-term commitment.
B)it must have positive affective, cognitive, and physical closeness.
C)it must be sexual.
D)it does not necessarily have to include self-disclosure.

Question 32

Technology has provided us with a new way to meet potential partners online using the Internet.One of the real advantages of the Internet in developing a long-term intimate relationship is that:

A)it provides people with the option to remain anonymous.
B)it allows people to say whatever they want to each other.
C)it forces people to focus on each other's interests and values.
D)it highlights a person's degree of physical attractiveness.

Question 33

Sternberg, in his triangular theory of love, defines or places emotion under the component of:

A)commitment.
B)passion.
C)decision.
D)intimacy.

Question 34

The features of Mark's face on one side of his nose are not symmetrical to the features on the other side of his nose.According to sociobiologists, this reflects a _____.

A)high degree of facial attractiveness
B)potential development instability
C)fluctuating symmetry
D)high degree of perceived similarity between the bilateral features

Question 35

Which of the following is true about intimacy?

A)It must have a physical dimension that is sexual.
B)It must be reciprocal but need not be equal.
C)It must essentially involve an equal sense of closeness between partners.
D)It must free partners from the pressure of engaging in self-disclosure.

Question 36

According to sociobiology, women essentially want mates who are:

A)able and willing to invest their resources in them and their children.
B)as young as they are, so that they do not outlive them for too long.
C)older and possess a higher level of sexual experience.
D)physically attractive even if they have low income and social status.

Question 37

Which of the following is said to reflect developmental instability?

A)Physical fitness
B)Visible symmetry
C)Fluctuating asymmetry
D)Body mass index

Question 38

According to the reinforcement theory, we are attracted to people who are similar to ourselves in social characteristics because:

A)they are more likely to be nice to us and the interaction with them is rewarding.
B)they are quite likely to hold different individual values, even though they are like us.
C)it is more socially acceptable to partner with individuals who have similar values.
D)similar people are less likely to give each other positive reinforcement.

Question 39

Which of the following is true about visible asymmetry?

A)It is a normal variation in facial development seen in a sizeable proportion of the population.
B)It is a reflection of high facial attractiveness in women.
C)It is a sign that the bilateral features of the face have developed normatively.
D)It is a reflection of the links that exist between attractiveness, fertility, and normal growth.

Question 40

Which of the following statements represents a principle that presently operates in the interpersonal marketplace of love and attraction?

A)The worth of persons is based primarily on their depth of character and not their looks.
B)Women's worth is based on physical beauty, whereas men's worth is based on economic success.
C)The most attractive males usually end up with high-status occupations but are paired with unattractive females.
D)The least attractive males usually end up with low-status occupations and are paired with the less attractive females.

Question 41

According to the attachment theory of love, _____ lovers are people who desperately want to get close to a partner but find that the partner does not reciprocate the feeling.

A)secure
B)fearful and avoidant
C)approach
D)anxious-ambivalent

Question 42

According to Sternberg, which of the following components of love includes our feelings of closeness or bondedness to the other person?

A)Infatuation
B)Commitment
C)Passsion
D)Intimacy

Question 43

In Sternberg's triangular theory of love, the component that makes the relationship last is:

A)intimacy.
B)commitment.
C)passion.
D)sex.

Question 44

According to the triangular theory of love, which of the following actions would be an expression of commitment?

A)Declaring one's feelings to the partner
B)Making love
C)Providing emotional support
D)Disclosing personal information

Question 45

After dating for two years, Richard proposes marriage to Cara.This reflects the _____ component of Sternberg's triangular theory of love.

A)infatuation
B)commitment
C)intimacy
D)passion

Question 46

According to the attachment theory of love, _____ lovers are people who are uncomfortable feeling close to another person and having that person feel close to them.

A)secure
B)fearful or avoidant
C)passive-aggressive
D)anxious-ambivalent

Question 47

According to the attachment theory of love, _____ lovers are people who find it easy to get close to others and are comfortable having others feel close to them.

A)secure
B)avoidant
C)approach
D)anxious-ambivalent

Question 48

According to Sternberg's triangular theory of love, _____ is the component of love that decreases, while the other two increase over the length of the relationship.

A)intimacy
B)passion
C)decision/commitment
D)self-disclosure

Question 49

According to the triangular theory of love, actions, such as communication of personal feelings and information, are an expression of _____.

A)decision
B)commitment
C)passion
D)intimacy

Question 50

In Sternberg's triangular theory of love, the component that differentiates romantic love from other kinds of love is:

A)intimacy.
B)passion.
C)decision or commitment.
D)attachment.

Question 51

In Sternberg's theory, _____ is the cognitive component of love.

A)decision/commitment
B)intimacy
C)passion
D)attraction

Question 52

In Sternberg's theory, _____ is the motivational component of love.

A)passion
B)intimacy
C)commitment
D)empathy

Question 53

According to the triangular theory of love, sticking with a relationship through times when it isn't particularly convenient is an expression of _____.

A)infatuation
B)commitment
C)intimacy
D)passion

Question 54

Anna has trouble trusting her boyfriend David.While David wants to engage in intimate conversations, Anna feels uncomfortable with this closeness.She also maintains an emotional distance from most people in her life.Which of the following attachment styles is Anna most likely to have?

A)Secure
B)Anxious-ambivalent
C)Preoccupied
D)Fearful or avoidant

Question 55

Shelby and Rita are best friends who share a very close bond.They lean on each other during hard times and depend on each other for emotional support.According to Sternberg's triangular theory of love, this reflects the component of _____.

A)decision
B)commitment
C)intimacy
D)passion

Question 56

Making love is a demonstration of the _____ component of Sternberg's triangular theory.

A)commitment
B)intimacy
C)passion
D)decision

Question 57

Barry and Irene have been dating for six months.Barry is possessive and insecure about Irene's feelings toward him.He adores her and desperately wants the relationship to last.According to the attachment theory of love, what type of lover is Barry?

A)Secure
B)Avoidant
C)Obsessive-compulsive
D)Anxious-ambivalent

Question 58

According to the triangular theory of love, which of the following actions would be an expression of passion?

A)Negotiating
B)Fighting
C)Kissing
D)Empathizing

Question 59

After dating her for six months, Harry knows that he is in love with Trisha.According to Sternberg's triangular theory of love, this awareness reflects the component of _____.

A)decision
B)empathy
C)intimacy
D)passion

Question 60

Sternberg has found that the best predictor of satisfaction with a relationship is:

A)the match between partners' levels of passion.
B)the match between the partners on all of the components of love.
C)the match between the number of reinforcements and punishments the person gives us.
D)the match between partners' intimacy relative to the match between partners' commitment.

Question 61

What happens to a romantic relationship if it lasts over time?

A)There is a shift, as the relationship progresses, from passionate to companionate love.
B)The passionate component of love becomes very important in long-term relationships.
C)Companionate love keeps the relationship together early on and then passionate love takes over.
D)Companionate love is present at the beginning of the relationship but slowly diminishes over time.

Question 62

Which of the following hormones is produced at orgasm?

A)Leptin
B)Inhibin
C)Estrogen
D)Oxytocin

Question 63

When appraising jealous feelings, a constructive way to cope with them is to:

A)maintain an emotional distance from the partner.
B)attribute the feelings to the rival.
C)discontinue the relationship until the feelings have been addressed.
D)communicate effectively with the partner.

Question 64

In a study on passionate love, researchers defined passionate love as physiological arousal caused by thoughts of or contact with the person they love.This is an example of a(n) _____ in research.

A)research plan
B)experiment
C)attribution error
D)operational definition

Question 65

According to cross-cultural psychologists, on which of the following dimensions do cultures vary?

A)Individualism and collectivism
B)Commitment and intensity
C)Morality and independence
D)Individualism and morality

Question 66

The type of culture where two people, who have agreed to marry, describe their love for one another as companionate, or as a friendship with a great deal of respect for the other is most likely to be characterized by _____.

A)collectivism
B)individualism
C)immorality
D)communism

Question 67

Our attachment style influences the way we react to a situation where we feel jealous.The attachment style of the person who reacts with anger toward the third person is:

A)secure.
B)anxious-ambivalent.
C)avoidant.
D)aggressive-paranoid.

Question 68

Assume that a heterosexual male is in a state of physiological arousal because his libido happens to be high at that particular time of the day.Further assume that this male encounters an elderly woman while in this state of arousal.Given the cultural context of the United States, what can you predict about this male's response?

A)He would be attracted to her, and this attraction would then generalize to other elderly women.
B)He probably would not be attracted to her because she would not be considered an appropriate love object.
C)He would be more attracted to her if he were not aroused.
D)He would be attracted to her, but would suppress these emotions as they are socially unacceptable.

Question 69

After playing a vigorous game of basketball, Ed experienced an increased heart rate and sweating from playing and found himself more attracted to women than Tyrone who did not play the game.What phenomenon can best explain the fact that Ed was more attracted to women than Tyrone?

A)Ed's sex drive is higher than Tyrone's
B)Ed's misattribution of arousal
C)Ed's heterosexual orientation
D)Ed's insecure attachment style

Question 70

In the terminology of the attachment theory of love, most adults are:

A)secure lovers.
B)insecure lovers.
C)avoidant lovers.
D)anxious-ambivalent lovers.

Question 71

_____ love is often the first stage of a romantic relationship.

A)Romantic
B)Companionate
C)Passionate
D)Platonic

Question 72

According to White and Mullen, we go through several stages of jealousy.The first of these stages is:

A)cognitive appraisal.
B)an emotional reaction.
C)a "jealous flash."
D)a reappraisal of the situation.

Question 73

Jealousy appears to be a common emotion for all of us.We are most likely to exhibit jealous behavior and emotions when:

A)another person is deeply in love with us, but we do not reciprocate those feelings.
B)the person who is in love with us demands that we should not be going out with other people.
C)the person whom we love does not love us in return, and tells us so.
D)the person we love gives the attention or time we deserve to someone else.

Question 74

Which of the following chemicals is related to interpersonal trust?

A)Oxytocin
B)Prolactin
C)Estrogen
D)Serotonin

Question 75

Which of the following would be the best predictor of adult attachment styles?

A)Separation from a parent during childhood by death.
B)Separation from a parent during childhood by divorce.
C)One's perception of the quality of the relationship with parents.
D)One's experience in relationships during the period of adolescence.

Question 76

_____ love is defined as a feeling of deep attachment and commitment to a person with whom one has an intimate relationship.

A)Romantic
B)Companionate
C)Passionate
D)Platonic

Question 77

If love is a story, as some researchers suggest, then when we fall in love, we:

A)fall in love with someone with whom we can create a relationship that fits our love story.
B)realize that stories have little to do with how the relationship will ultimately develop.
C)create our own individual love story not patterned on the love stories in our culture.
D)usually follow the only true love story which we have assimilated from our culture.

Question 78

Which of the following chemicals is associated with euphoria and craving?

A)Oxytocin
B)Prolactin
C)Estrogen
D)Dopamine

Question 79

Sternberg has identified several categories of love stories found in U.S.culture.The love story that is associated with high satisfaction in the love relationship is the _____ story.

A)war
B)garden
C)business
D)horror

Question 80

_____ love is a state of intense longing for union with the other person and of intense physiological arousal.

A)Companionate
B)Platonic
C)Passionate
D)Empathetic