Interpersonal Relationships In Psychology

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nterpersonal relationships in psychology is the study of attraction, matching, forming relationships, staying together, how to maintain a relationship and breaking up. Within this topic it looks at what factors affect the forming and maintenance of relationships. The important factors at the beginning of a relationship may change throughout. Many factors influence relationships and attraction, some are situational for example place, time, proximity, exposure and familiarity and others are personal such as attractiveness, similarity and cost-reward. To form a relationship it is thought we must look at different factors before we decide whether it is something we want to invest ourselves in. Within this topic there are a number of different theories, one of them being the matching hypothesis theory. This can be affected by many factors, one being proximity. This is the geographical and physical closeness of those considering a relationship, its clear we cannot get in to a relationship with someone we don't know or never met therefore proximity is a must for a relationship to form. Festinger et al (1950) conducted a study on proximity, they looked at how students living on a university campus formed friendships and relationships. The results showed the the students who lived near the entrance had more friends than those who lived further away, the students were more likely to be friends with those next door or two doors down rather than at the opposite end of the corridor. Festinger et al concluded that the more frequent the interaction, the more likely a friendship or relationship would develop. This study was seen to have high validity as it was concluded in a natural and real life situation however it did not suggest any roma... ... middle of paper ... ...able: http://www.eruptingmind.com/matching-hypothesis-of-interpersonal-attraction/. Last accessed 31/01/2014. Hazra, S. (2009). Theories of interpersonal relationships. Available: http://www.slideshare.net/eternalsubhasis/theories-of-interpersonal-relationship. Last accessed 31/01/2014 Bibliography Class handouts http://www.eruptingmind.com/matching-hypothesis-of-interpersonal-attraction/ https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=cr&ei=jLfrUvbzOMW_ygOp5IHADg#q=suggests+we+are+attracted+to+those+who+are+rewarding+to+us.+The+more+rewards+someone+provides%2C+the+more+we+are+attracted+to+them.+According+to+the+theory+a+number+of+factors+contribute+to+how+rewarding+someone+is http://psychlopedia.wikispaces.com/Reward+Theory+of+Attraction http://www.slideshare.net/eternalsubhasis/theories-of-interpersonal-relationship http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_exchange_theory

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