Deck 12: Close Relationships: Passion, Intimacy and Sexuality

Question 1

In Sternberg's triangular theory of love, intimacy refers to ____.

A)behaviours that are sexual in nature
B)feelings of closeness, mutual understanding, and concern
C)an emotional state characterised by high bodily arousal
D)sexual monogamy

Answer 1

feelings of closeness, mutual understanding, and concern

Question 2

Which type of love is most likely to seem like a temporary state of insanity and, in fact, was viewed by Europeans, in bygone centuries, as a form of mental imbalance?

A)companionate love
B)passionate love
C)committed love
D)affectionate love

Answer 2

passionate love

Question 3

While ____ love may be the most effective for starting relationships, ____ love may be the most effective for sustaining them in the long term.

A)passionate; companionate
B)companionate; passionate
C)affectionate; intimate
D)committed; affectionate

Answer 3

passionate; companionate

Question 4

Sternberg's triangular theory of love is a theory about ____.

A)three different kinds of love - all on a romantic spectrum
B)three different kinds of love - romantic as well as platonic
C)three different ingredients, or factors, that are present in varying degrees in different love relationships
D)three different paths that love relationships can take across time

Question 5

Social psychologists have identified several different types of love.Which of the following types of love refers to mutual understanding and caring to make the relationship succeed?

A)passionate love
B)companionate love
C)committed love
D)affectionate love

Question 6

Compared to people who are single and not cohabiting, married people ____.

A)have sex more frequently
B)spend more time each sexual act
C)report higher rates of orgasm
D)have more sexual partners

Question 7

Current research on passionate love suggests that ____.

A)it is a purely Western phenomenon, and unknown in other cultures
B)it is a relatively recent phenomenon, and unheard of several centuries ago
C)it seems to be universal, though it has not always been viewed as a good basis for marriage
D)it seems to be universal and to be globally regarded as 'true' love

Question 8

Research suggests that, compared to married people, single people ____.

A)have sex more frequently
B)are more likely to engage in sexual acts beyond simple genital intercourse
C)report higher rates of orgasm
D)have sex more frequently, are more likely to engage in sexual acts beyond simple genital intercourse, AND report higher rates of orgasm

Question 9

A successful long-term relationship typically depends on making a smooth transition from ____ to ____.

A)companionate love; passionate love
B)commitment; intimacy
C)commitment; passion
D)passionate love; companionate love

Question 10

Thabang and Tebogo are infatuated with one another.Whenever they see each other, their hearts pound and they feel sexually excited.They also think about one another constantly when they are apart.Social psychologists would say that they are experiencing ____.

A)passionate love
B)companionate love
C)committed love
D)affectionate love

Question 11

Njabulo and Vuyo have been dating for seven years.They are still very attracted to each other, but they are not as obsessed with each other the way they were when they first met.However, they have developed deep respect and love for one another across the years, and they are intent on staying together for the long term.Social psychologists would say that their relationship embodies ____.

A)passionate love
B)companionate love
C)intimate love
D)disclosure love

Question 12

According to Sternberg's triangular theory of love, the three ingredients in love are passion, commitment, and ____.

A)intimacy
B)companionship
C)affection
D)devotion

Question 13

In the typical long-term, romantic relationship, a couple will experience passionate love for ____.

A)three months or so - six to nine months at the most
B)a year or so - two or three years at the most
C)seven years or so - ten to fifteen years at the most
D)an unlimited number of years or decades, if the relationship is successful

Question 14

The three ingredients identified in Sternberg's triangular theory of love have somewhat different time courses across the length of romantic relationships.____ tends to develop first, and ____ tends to develop last.

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

Question 15

Social psychologists have identified several different types of love.So-called 'affectionate love' is referred to as ____.

A)passionate love
B)companionate love
C)committed love
D)fool's love

Question 16

Faith and Andile have been dating for nearly a year and are very much in love.If they are like most couples, their passionate love ____.

A)is at its peak, and will begin to die down soon
B)will peak in two to three years, and then begin to die down
C)will peak in five to seven years, and then begin to die down
D)will remain more or less constant as long as they stay together

Question 17

Research shows that, across time, married couples have sex less and less often.However, it should be noted that the ____.

A)lower frequency can be almost entirely explained by the fact that longer-married couples tend to have children (and having children has the effect of reducing sex).
B)decline is statistically insignificant and cyclical in nature
C)lower frequency is due to both age and length of marriage
D)decline does not start for several years into marriage

Question 18

Social psychologists have identified several different types of love.Which type of love refers to strong feelings of longing, desire, and excitement toward a special person?

A)passionate love
B)companionate love
C)committed love
D)affectionate love

Question 19

Social psychologists have identified several different types of love.So-called 'romantic love' is referred to as ____.

A)passionate love
B)companionate love
C)committed love
D)fool's love

Question 20

People who are passionately in love report that they feel as though they were high on drugs, and that they experience 'tingling' sensations of excitement and euphoria when spending time with their partner.Research indicates that this is likely a result of ____.

A)increased levels of the sex hormone testosterone
B)increased levels of the neurotransmitter phenylethylamine (PEA)
C)increased production of red blood cells
D)increased levels of lactic acid in the muscles

Question 21

How are attractiveness and sexual desire related to satisfaction with a marriage?

A)Except very early in marriage, they are unrelated.
B)Women whose partners find them attractive are almost invariably more satisfied.
C)Women whose partners find them attractive OR whose partners value their other traits are more satisfied.
D)Women whose partners find them attractive AND whose partners value their other traits AND whose partners are committed to the relationship are more satisfied.

Question 22

According to the text, modern societies have apparently thrived on ____ relationships, which seem to promote achievement, increase wealth, and ultimately drive societal progress.

A)pragmatic
B)communal
C)exchange
D)distributive

Question 23

People who fear winding up alone are ____.

A)more likely to repeatedly marry but then initiate divorces
B)more likely to settle for a less-than-optimal partner
C)less likely to pair up in a romantic relationship
D)more likely to initiate breakups

Question 24

Across society, ____ relationships seem the most powerful for driving progress and increasing wealth.

A)communal
B)altruistic
C)mutual
D)exchange

Question 25

The anxiety dimension of attachment is best described as referring to attitudes towards the ____.

A)other
B)self
C)relationship
D)other, self, and relationship

Question 26

According to your text, the beneficial effects of the wedding are more about its ____ impact.

A)financial
B)spiritual
C)legal
D)social

Question 27

Compared to people in close exchange relationships, people in close communal relationships ____.

A)do not necessarily help one another more or keep better track of 'who does what for whom' in the relationship
B)help one another more, but do not necessarily keep better track each other's' needs
C)help one another more, and keep better track of their partners' needs
D)help one another more, and keep better track of 'who does what for whom' in the relationship

Question 28

Mbali and Abdul fell in 'love at first sight' a few days ago.They think about each other constantly and the sexual tension between them runs high.Consequently, they spend most of their time having sex and little time talking.How would you rate their intimacy level according to Sternberg's theory?

A)low
B)moderate
C)fairly high
D)off the charts high

Question 29

Using Sternberg's triangular theory of love as a framework, companionate love might be best described as consisting of ____.

A)passion and intimacy
B)passion and commitment
C)intimacy and commitment
D)passion, intimacy, and commitment

Question 30

Shenaaz and her friend Lungi are extremely close, and treat one another like sisters.When Lungi was broke, for example, Shenaaz let her stay at her apartment for several months without charging rent.When Shenaaz was in the hospital for a knee surgery, Lungi brought her movies, food, and other gifts nearly every day.Social psychologists would say that Shenaaz and Lungi have a(n) ____ relationship.

A)communal
B)pragmatic
C)distributive
D)exchange

Question 31

A(n) ____ relationship is based on reciprocity and fairness; each person does something for the other mainly in the expectation of getting some direct benefit in return.

A)communal
B)pragmatic
C)distributive
D)exchange

Question 32

A(n) ____ relationship is based on mutual love and concern, where people do things for one another without expecting to be repaid.

A)reciprocal
B)communal
C)exchange
D)distributive

Question 33

Which factor is one of the key, defining distinctions between exchange relationships and communal relationships?

A)whether or not the people in the relationship are related (or married)
B)how long the relationship lasts
C)the degree to which people in the relationship keep track of who does what
D)whether or not the people in the relationship are part of a larger group

Question 34

It is not uncommon for office mates to go out to lunch and discuss whose turn it is to pay.Such office mates are best described as having a(n) ____ relationship.

A)communal
B)altruistic
C)mutual
D)exchange

Question 35

Zinhle and Mandla are a couple.They are extremely close, sharing nearly every detail of their day and emotions with each other.They also are committed to each other no matter what happens.Zinhle and Mandla are experiencing ____ love.

A)passionate
B)companionate
C)fatuous
D)consummate

Question 36

When it comes to close interpersonal relations, ____ relationships tend to be more mature, and more indicative of long-term success, than ____ relationships.

A)exchange; distributive
B)communal; exchange
C)distributive; communal
D)exchange; pragmatic

Question 37

Sternberg has concluded that the most common element of his triangular love theory across relationships is ____.

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

Question 38

People in committed romantic relationships are ____ in the long run.

A)more sensitive to relationship problems
B)more vulnerable to relationship problems
C)more resilient in the face of relationship problems
D)more likely have trouble resolving relationship problems

Question 39

What role do weddings play in the likelihood that a marriage will succeed?

A)Couples who spend more on the engagement ring are less likely to divorce.
B)Couples who spend more on the ceremony are less likely to divorce.
C)Couples who have more wedding guests are less likely to divorce.
D)Couples who spend more on the reception are less likely to divorce.

Question 40

In most work relationships, people only help one another if they are manifestly paid for their services, or if they expect a direct favour in return.Such relationships are known as ____.

A)exchange relationships
B)pragmatic relationships
C)communal relationships
D)goal-seeking relationships

Question 41

Having a negative, critical attitude toward yourself can ____.

A)interfere with the capacity to love
B)eventually lead towards a greater capacity to love
C)cause narcissism
D)eventually lead towards self-awareness and self-acceptance

Question 42

Research has suggested that being married is good for your health.But follow-up research indicates that ____ is what is most important.

A)being happily married
B)having a monogamous relationship
C)having children
D)having a marriage with clearly-defined gender roles

Question 43

The so-called 'investment model' is a model that seeks to explain why people stay with their long-term relationship partners.This model identifies three key factors, namely ____.

A)passion, commitment, and intimacy
B)security, anxiety, and avoidance
C)satisfaction, alternatives, and investments
D)similarity, familiarity, and propinquity

Question 44

Regarding oneself as a reasonably good person 'as is' is known as ____.

A)self-love
B)self-acceptance
C)narcissism
D)erotic plasticity

Question 45

When people in a relationship are tempted by being asked to think about meeting an attractive single person who would be a potential partner, men and women ____.

A)both increase relationship commitment
B)react differently, with men reducing relationship commitment and women increasing it
C)react differently, with men increasing relationship commitment and women reducing it
D)both reduce relationship commitment

Question 46

Aniya and Philani have been married for nine years, but have recently started having marital problems.Indeed, their relationship has taken a real downturn, and seems to be in the process of deteriorating.What does your text suggest about the likelihood of their relationship getting back on track?

A)Generally speaking, their relationship is unlikely to get back on track, as it is unusual for a couple to restore a healthy relationship once it has begun a downward spiral.
B)Generally speaking, their relationship is still very likely to get back on track, as it is perfectly normal for couples to cycle in and out of 'crisis periods.'
C)Their relationship is only likely to get back on track if they have children.
D)Their relationship is only likely to get back on track if they enter therapy.

Question 47

Research suggests that, compared to people who never get married, people who marry ____.

A)live longer
B)live about the same amount of time
C)do not live as long
D)live longer if they are male, but do not live as long if they are female

Question 48

Research on narcissism suggests that ____.

A)self-love must precede receiving love from others
B)you have to love yourself to have a satisfying relationship
C)self-love promotes commitment in a relationship
D)too much self-love detracts from loving others

Question 49

Which relationship has the highest 'sunk costs'?

A)Rulani and Aza, who have just started dating
B)Jabu and Lindi, who have been dating for a blissful year
C)Khumo and Neo, who have been together for years
D)Mira and Prakash, who are having a stormy, but probably brief, affair

Question 50

Does social psychological research support the popular notion that 'first you must love yourself, and only then you are ready to love someone else?' Why or why not?

A)Yes - because people with high self-esteem tend to have longer-lasting relationships than do people with low self-esteem.
B)Yes - because people who have narcissistic personality traits tend to report greater relationship satisfaction compared with other people.
C)No - because there are essentially no differences in relationship outcome measures when comparing narcissists, those with high self-esteem, and those with low or very low self-esteem.
D)Not really - although extreme self-love and extreme self-hate seem to negatively impact relationship outcomes, there are no major differences in relationship outcomes between those with high self-esteem and those with low self-esteem.

Question 51

Does social psychological research support the popular notion that 'first you must love yourself, and only then you are ready to love someone else?'

A)Yes, definitely.
B)No, definitely not.
C)It is impossible to say; no research has been conducted in this area.
D)Not really; self-esteem does not seem to have a big impact on relationship success.

Question 52

How does self-esteem relate to longevity of relationships?

A)People with low self-esteem tend to have relationships that last longer.
B)People with high self-esteem tend to have relationships that last longer.
C)Self-esteem is more or less unrelated to relationship longevity.
D)This depends on gender; high self-esteem is related to relationship longevity among women, but not among men.

Question 53

Many longitudinal studies that track couples across time have found that there are essentially two patterns: Some couples ____ and some couples ____.

A)become less satisfied with the relationship; stay the same
B)become more passionate; stay the same
C)become more satisfied with the relationship; become less satisfied
D)become more passionate; become less passionate

Question 54

Siphiwe and Padma have been happily married for 10 years.The text suggests that they probably think that they are ____, whereas in reality, ____.

A)happier together today than they were during their first year of marriage; their relationship satisfaction has probably remained stable
B)happier together today than they were during their first year of marriage; their relationship satisfaction has probably declined
C)not as happy together today as they were during their first year of marriage; their relationship satisfaction has probably remained stable
D)not as happy together today as they were during their first year of marriage; their relationship satisfaction has probably increased

Question 55

While exchange relationships are based on a norm of ____, communal relationships are based on a norm of ____.

A)reciprocity; mutual concern
B)mutual concern; deference
C)mutual concern; reciprocity
D)deference; reciprocity

Question 56

Research on long-term relationships indicates that people tend to perceive that their relationship satisfaction is ____ year after year, when in reality, their relationship satisfaction is ____ across time.

A)increasing; constant
B)constant; declining
C)constant; increasing
D)declining; constant

Question 57

Which theoretical framework makes use of three factors - satisfaction, alternatives, and investments - to explain why people stay with their long-term relationship partners?

A)attachment theory
B)social constructionist theories
C)the investment model
D)social exchange theory

Question 58

Marriage has been linked to physical health benefits as well as psychological well-being.For men, the difference seems rooted in ____.

A)being married versus not being married
B)being happily versus unhappily married
C)a favourable versus unfavourable genetic background
D)relationship-enhancing versus distress-maintaining attributional styles

Question 59

Suppose that Khumo has somewhat high self-esteem, while her sister Lindi has somewhat low self-esteem.Meanwhile, their cousin Nandi has extraordinarily high self-esteem - to the point of being completely narcissistic.And another cousin of theirs, Hloni, has extraordinarily low self-esteem, such that she is brimming with self-criticism and self-hate.What does research suggest about the likelihood that Khumo , Lindi , Nandi , and Hloni will have successful long-term relationships?

A)Khumo and Nandi will likely be more successful than Lindi and Hloni.
B)Khumo and Lindi will likely be about equally successful, while Nandi and Hloni will likely be relatively unsuccessful.
C)Khumo, Lindi, and Nandi will likely be about equally successful, while Hloni will likely be relatively unsuccessful.
D)Khumo, Lindi, and Hloni will likely be about equally successful, while Nandi will likely be relatively unsuccessful.

Question 60

Vusi is very satisfied with his lover, Ayesha, and they have been together for many years.But he is constantly investigating other 'alternatives' by going to singles bars and having his profile up on online dating sites.What would the investment model predict about the stability of this relationship?

A)The critical factors for promoting relationship longevity are present, so they will likely stay together in spite of Vusi's searches.
B)The relationship may break up due to low sunk costs.
C)The relationship may break up because of high sunk costs.
D)The relationship may break up because of high availability of alternatives.

Question 61

Couples who are experiencing passionate love tend to have overly positive, idealised views of one another.Research suggests that such views can often ____.

A)help relationships to survive long term
B)interfere with the development of companionate love
C)interfere with the process of disclosure
D)ironically, lead to misunderstandings and conflicts

Question 62

Couples who are experiencing passionate love tend to have ____ views of one another.

A)overly positive, idealised
B)realistic and fairly accurate
C)overly negative
D)completely inaccurate

Question 63

If Aza engages in a distress-maintaining style of attribution when explaining her husband Jordan's behaviour, then she will make ____ attributions for Jordan's achievements and ____ attributions for Jordan's failures.

A)internal, internal
B)internal, external
C)external, internal
D)external, external

Question 64

Swann's (1985, 1987) research suggests that people want others to see them ____.

A)in an idealised light
B)as they truly are
C)in a negative light
D)as physically attractive

Question 65

Rulani and Tumi have been married for 60 years and, when a local news station interviews them on their anniversary, they both say that their relationship keeps getting better and better, every year.What does longitudinal research on marital relationships say about how marital relationships change over time?

A)What matters is what they believe and if they believe their relationship is getting better, it must be getting better.
B)When a marriage has lasted as long as theirs has, it is almost certainly getting better over time.
C)In general, people in very long-term relationships will say they are getting better even if they are getting worse.
D)While people may say their relationship is getting better, research indicates that their actual ratings of the relationship will either stay the same or get worse.

Question 66

Jabu is very interested in having a committed relationship with someone.Based on Diamond's research, this is probably motivated by the ____.

A)attachment drive
B)sex drive
C)nurture drive
D)psychodynamic drive

Question 67

If Lulu engages in a relationship-enhancing style of attribution when explaining her husband Thabang's behaviour, then she will make ____ attributions for Thabang's achievements and ____ attributions for Thabang's failures.

A)internal; internal
B)internal; external
C)external; internal
D)external; external

Question 68

The authors of the text suggest that in general, people today might have more successful long-term relationships if they ____.

A)continually strove to be on their 'best behaviour' (e.g., dressing well, being polite)
B)made more of an effort for their partners to see 'the real them' (e.g., sharing fears and insecurities)
C)tried not to idealise their partners, but instead to see them as 'real people'
D)made more of an effort to 'love themselves' before trying to love their partners

Question 69

Suppose that Walter is happily married to Palesa.If he is like most happily married heterosexual men, then, when asked to rate the attractiveness of various other women, he is MOST likely to devalue (rate as less attractive than they really are) ____.

A)attractive single women who are his age
B)attractive married women who are his age
C)attractive married women who are younger than him
D)attractive single women who are older than him

Question 70

Which ideas suggest that attitudes and behaviours, including sexual desires and sexual behaviours, are strongly shaped by culture and socialisation?

A)social plasticity hypotheses
B)social constructionist theories
C)social exchange theories
D)evolutionary theories

Question 71

Suppose that Neo and Tidi are both happily married, but that Chris tends to look at other women - attractive single women who are potential alternative prospects - when he is out on the town at bars and clubs.Does this mean that Neo's marriage is less likely to last than Tidi's?

A)Yes - research suggests that the more time people spend looking at alternative prospects, the more likely it is that their relationship is doomed.
B)No - the degree to which people look at alternative prospects does not appear to be related to relationship success.
C)No - in fact, people who look at alternatives at least occasionally are MORE likely to have successful relationships than people who don't.
D)It depends on how Neo is evaluating other women; his marriage is only less likely to last than Tidi's if he is consciously comparing the other women to his wife.

Question 72

Compared to couples who are unhappy, happy couples tend to make use of a(n) ____ attributional style when explaining their spouse's behaviours.

A)relationship-enhancing
B)distress-maintaining
C)independent
D)interdependent

Question 73

Do most people want their partners to see them 'as they really are', or do most people prefer that their partners hold a highly positive, idealised view of what they are like?

A)Most people prefer that their partners see them 'as they really are'.
B)Most people prefer that their partners hold an overly positive, idealised view.
C)People with high self-esteem prefer that their partners see them 'as they really are', while people with low self-esteem prefer that their partners hold an overly positive, idealised view.
D)Research on this issue has provided conflicting answers.

Question 74

Which statement best summarises Diamond's conclusions regarding the attachment drive, the sex drive, and love?

A)These three phenomena all appear to come from the same core drive.
B)The attachment drive and the sex drive appear to be somewhat separate drives, and love seems to be based on the former.
C)The attachment drive and the sex drive appear to be somewhat separate drives, and love seems to be based on the latter.
D)While the attachment drive is critically important during infancy and childhood, it is replaced in importance by the sex drive during puberty and adulthood; love may grow out of either drive.

Question 75

Which ideas are most inconsistent, or most in disagreement, in terms of their explanations of sexual behaviours?

A)evolutionary theory and social constructionist theories
B)evolutionary theory and social exchange theory
C)social exchange theory and social constructionist theories
D)evolutionary theory and the Coolidge effect

Question 76

Diamond's research regarding the attachment drive and the sex drive indicates that ____.

A)attachment can promote sexual desire, and sexual intimacy can promote attachment
B)attachment can promote sexual desire, but sexual intimacy almost never promotes attachment
C)attachment almost never promotes sexual desire, but sexual intimacy can promote attachment
D)attachment almost never promotes sexual desire, and sexual intimacy almost never promotes attachment

Question 77

Which idea suggests that the sex drive has been shaped by natural selection?

A)social plasticity hypothesis
B)social constructionist theory
C)social exchange theory
D)evolutionary theory

Question 78

When couples make internal attributions for one another's successes, and external attributions for one another's failures, then they are said to be making use of ____.

A)an interdependent attributional style
B)a relationship-enhancing attributional style
C)an independent attributional style
D)a distress-maintaining attributional style

Question 79

Research by Murray and Holmes suggests that people who ____ their partner's bad points and ____ their partner's good points have the happiest relationships.

A)downplay; emphasise
B)emphasise; downplay
C)recognise; emphasise
D)emphasise; recognise

Question 80

Busi, who is married, recently stopped taking birth control pills.How is this likely to affect her marital satisfaction?

A)It will decrease her satisfaction regardless of her husband's attentiveness.
B)It will decrease her satisfaction regardless of her husband's attractiveness.
C)It will increase her satisfaction, but only if her husband is attractive.
D)It will increase her satisfaction, but only if her husband is attentive.