PSYCH 243 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Pair Bond, Storge, Traditional Marriage
PSYCH 243 – Chapter 9 – Pair Bonding
Pair Bonding and Love
• Pair bonding: type of strong association organisms can have for each other (self-
selected)
• Marriage is the most intimate long-term relationship most people will have
o Enhance the quality of life for partners
• Love is an intense positive feeling, and liking is a milder feeling (being pleased with
relationship)
• Romantic love: positive strong emotions focused on the person who is loved and a
strong desire to be with them (not for sex)
• Passionate love: intense biologically-driven sexual arousal caused by the physical
presence of the other
o Decrease naturally to less intensity (adapt to eustress)
o Begin with passionate love and transition to romantic love
o Expressions of affection decrease by half after two years of relationship
o Divorce rate peaks at about four years
• Lee’s Six-Type Model of Love
o Sensual love (Eros): perceived beauty of the partner (passionate)
o Game playing (Ludus): enjoying each other by having fun together
o Friendship (Storge): family ties and close friend companionate love
o Practical love (Pragma): rational and goal-oriented to fulfill set purposes
o Possessive (Mania): obsession or codependency feeling
o Selfless love (Agape): giving to the other without wanting something in return
• Sternberg’s Triangular Model
o Theory of consummate love: the most fulfilling and satisfying love
o Three sides: sexually passionate love, intimacy, and commitment
o Form eight different relationship types
• Relationships start with the people we are in more frequent contact with, find attractive,
communicate effectively with, and find similar to us
• Mutual love attraction ranked most important in finding a mate
o Cultural similarity and education important in mate selection
o Males: want female that is physically attractive, can cook, and is careful with
finances
o Females: want male that is considerate, kind, cares for children, has a steady
income, ambitious, and career oriented
o Both: kind and understanding, exciting personality, and intelligent
o Physical attractiveness more important to males
o Positive internal characteristics more important than external
• Ideal partner preferences: mate characteristics; come later in relationships
• Short-term mating: dating, hookups, casual sexual encounters
o Physical attractiveness more important
• Long-term mating is more complicated – don’t choose mate based on ideal partner
preferences
• Traditional marriage: social roles of husband and wife, based off reproduction potential
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