#AP Psychology: Attraction and Love - Your Final Review! ❤️

Hey there, future psych expert! Let's dive into the fascinating world of attraction and love. This is it—the final stretch! You've got this, and I'm here to make sure you're feeling confident and ready to ace this exam.

#Attraction: The Science of Connection

# The Three Ingredients of Attraction 🍲

Attraction isn't just random; it's a mix of factors that pull us towards others. Let's break down the key ingredients:

• Proximity—Contact:
  • We're more likely to be attracted to people we see often, like neighbors or coworkers. This is due to the mere-exposure effect. 💡
  • Mere-exposure effect: The more we're exposed to something (or someone), the more we tend to like it. Think of it like a song you didn't like at first but grew to love after hearing it a lot. This is also why we tend to like people with similar facial features or names to our own.

- Evolutionary roots: Our ancestors favored the familiar for safety. 🤗

• Physical Attractiveness—Impression:
  • We're drawn to average and symmetrical features. It's not about being 'unique' but about looking healthy.
  • Men tend to prefer women with a low waist-to-hip ratio, while women often prefer men with masculine features. 💪

- This bias can lead to advantages in social and professional settings, like higher paychecks and more dates.

• Similarity—Closeness:
  • We like people who are similar to us. Shared beliefs and interests create a sense of validation and connection. 🏆
  • Reward theory of attraction: We like those whose behavior is rewarding to us. This could be anything from shared interests to simple acts of kindness.

- This can create a cycle of attraction: We like those who like us back, especially if we have low self-esteem. - Kindness and compassion can also boost someone's attractiveness in our eyes.

# Love: From Passion to Companionship

#The Two Faces of Love ❤️

Love isn't just one thing; it evolves over time. Let's look at the two main types:

• Passionate Love:
  • This is the intense, often overwhelming attraction at the start of a relationship. It's a state of high arousal and deep desire. 🔥
  • It requires two key ingredients: physical arousal and cognitive appraisal (interpreting that arousal as attraction).

• Companionate Love:
  • This is the deep, affectionate attachment that develops over time. It's about comfort, trust, and mutual support. 🤗
  • Passionate love involves dopamine and adrenaline surges, while companionate love brings in oxytocin, the 'bonding' hormone.

#Loving Relationships: The Key Ingredients

For long-term success, relationships need more than just love. Here are three essentials:

1. ⚖️ Equity: A fair balance of give-and-take. Both partners should contribute and receive equally. If one person is always giving and the other is always taking, the relationship will likely struggle. It's about a 50-50 effort.

2. 💖 Self-disclosure: Sharing intimate details about yourself with your partner. This builds trust and intimacy. It needs to be reciprocal for a healthy relationship. As one partner opens up, the other should too.

3. 🥰 Comfort and Support: Creating a safe and supportive environment where both partners feel accepted and cared for. Positive interactions should outweigh negative ones.

   

   Image Courtesy of Luvze.

#Final Exam Focus

Okay, let's get down to brass tacks. Here’s what you absolutely need to nail on the exam:

• Key Concepts:

  • Mere-exposure effect and how it impacts attraction.
  • Reward theory of attraction and its implications.
  • The difference between passionate and companionate love. 💡
  • The importance of equity, self-disclosure, and support in relationships.

• Common Question Types:

  • Multiple-choice questions that test your understanding of the different types of love and attraction.
  • FRQs that ask you to apply these concepts to real-life scenarios or case studies.
  • Questions that combine multiple units (e.g., linking attraction to social psychology or evolutionary psychology).

• Last-Minute Tips:

  • Time Management: Don't spend too long on any one question. If you're stuck, move on and come back later.
  • Common Pitfalls: Be careful not to confuse passionate and companionate love. Remember that equity is about balance, not necessarily equality.
  • Challenging Questions: Break down complex questions into smaller parts. Identify the key concepts and apply them step-by-step.

# Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to the mere-exposure effect, which of the following is most likely to increase attraction? a) Having conflicting political views b) Frequent contact with a person c) Having completely different hobbies d) Avoiding all physical contact

2. Which of the following best describes companionate love? a) An intense, passionate attraction b) A deep, affectionate attachment c) A fleeting, superficial interest d) A purely physical attraction

3. Which of the following is NOT a key component of a successful long-term relationship? a) Equity b) Self-disclosure c) Constant passionate love d) Comfort and support

#Free Response Question (FRQ)

Scenario:

Sarah and Ben have been dating for six months. Initially, they were intensely attracted to each other and spent all their time together. Recently, they’ve noticed that the ‘spark’ seems to have faded, and they’re arguing more often. Sarah feels like she’s doing most of the emotional work in the relationship, while Ben feels like Sarah is being overly critical.

Tasks:

1. Define passionate love and companionate love. Explain how Sarah and Ben’s relationship might be transitioning between these two phases.
2. Discuss how equity and self-disclosure might be affecting Sarah and Ben’s relationship. Provide specific examples to illustrate your points.
3. Suggest two strategies that Sarah and Ben could use to improve their relationship, based on the concepts discussed in this unit.

Scoring Breakdown:

1. Passionate and Companionate Love (3 points)
   • 1 point for correctly defining passionate love as an intense, aroused state of attraction.
   • 1 point for correctly defining companionate love as a deep, affectionate attachment.
   • 1 point for explaining that Sarah and Ben's relationship is likely transitioning from passionate to companionate love, which is a normal shift.
2. Equity and Self-Disclosure (4 points)
   • 1 point for correctly defining equity as a balance of give-and-take.
   • 1 point for explaining that Sarah feels like the relationship is not equitable, as she is doing most of the emotional labor.
   • 1 point for correctly defining self-disclosure as sharing intimate details.
   • 1 point for explaining that the lack of self-disclosure or negative communication is leading to arguments and criticism.
3. Strategies for Improvement (2 points)
   • 1 point for suggesting a strategy related to improving equity (e.g., dividing responsibilities, expressing needs).
   • 1 point for suggesting a strategy related to improving self-disclosure or communication (e.g., active listening, sharing feelings openly).

#Closing Thoughts

That’s it! You’ve made it through all the key topics. Remember, you’re not just memorizing facts; you’re understanding the science of human behavior. Go into that exam with confidence, knowing you’re well-prepared. You’ve got this! 💪