Interpersona (E-Journal - PsychOpen)
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Factors Related to Initiating Interpersonal Contacts on Internet Dating Sites: A View From the Social Exchange Theory
No full textThe purpose of this study was to identify factors that influence dating-site users to initiate contact with potential romantic partners. The study was carried out by observing online behaviors and analyzing the profiles and authentic messages of these users (N = 106) over seven months. Contacts made by and with the research participants were analyzed in terms of the relationships between initiators‘ and receivers‘ demographic variables (marital status, age, level of education, income), writing skills, and stated physical appearance. In addition, the relationship between contacting partners and site accessibility was examined. The findings revealed that dating-site users initiated contact primarily with those having a similar marital status or slightly better characteristics (income, education, writing skills). In regard to writing skills, it was found that skilled writers attracted more contacts than did less skilled writers. However, the factor that was found to be most significantly related to initiating contact was the length of time that elapsed from last connection to the site, which implies the perceived accessibility of potential romantic partners. The findings were explained in terms of the Social Exchange Theory: people are attracted to those who grant them rewards
Contemporary Methods of Social Introduction: Is the Stigmatisation justified?
No full textHistorically, individuals in search of a romantic partner have expanded their pool of alternatives by meeting others through their personal social networks. In the last few decades, however, a growing singles population, coupled with advances in technology, has promoted the utilisation and modernization of contemporary marriage market intermediaries (MMIs), including online dating sites, social networking sites, and professional matchmaking services. Importantly, these contemporary MMIs depart from more normative methods for meeting others, making their use ripe for social stigmatization, as evidenced by myriad portrayals in the popular media. The purpose of the present research was to provide an empirical exploration of the validity of the layperson stigma towards users of contemporary MMIs by assessing the extent to which users and nonusers of these various services differ on key individual characteristics relevant to relationship initiation and progression. Specifically, we surveyed 96 individuals, all of whom were attending a singles‘ happy hour, and compared users and nonusers of contemporary MMIs on several important characteristics. Although users reported going on more dates and perceived greater attractiveness in others at the event, no differences were observed in personality (i.e., the Big 5) or adult attachment classification (i.e., secure vs. insecure). Altogether, our findings suggest that users of contemporary MMIs are not socially undesirable people (or at least any more undesirable than nonusers)
Couples’ Helpful, Unhelpful and Ideal Conflict Resolution Strategies: Secure and Insecure Attachment Differences and Similarities
No full textTwenty two heterosexual couples living in New Zealand participated in this study regarding helpful, unhelpful and idealized conflict resolution strategies. Thematic analysis was used to extract key themes, and these were categorized by whether individuals were securely or insecurely attached to their partners. Both secure and insecure individuals identified similar helpful conflict strategies, including turn-taking, listening and remaining calm. Differences emerged between secure and insecure individuals with regards to unhelpful strategies, with insecure individuals’ descriptions taking on an overall negative slant, whilst secure individuals either did not use unhelpful strategies or have learned more helpful strategies over time. Similar ideal conflict strategies emerged for both secure and insecure individuals; however, secure individuals’ descriptions were much more closely matched to the helpful strategies they use in their own relationships
Do Psychological Birth Order Positions Predict Future Time Orientation in Romantic Relationships?
No full textPsychological birth order was examined as predictor of future time orientation in romantic relationships among Turkish people using a Turkish version (Kalkan, 2005) of the White-Campbell Psychological Birth Order Inventory (Campbell, White & Stewart, 1991) and the Future Time Orientation in Romantic Relationships Scale (Öner, 2000). A total of 407 university students from Ondokuz Mayıs University participated in the study. The results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that psychologically first, middle and only positions predict future time orientation in romantic relationships. Gender, actual birth order, and psychologically young child position did not contribute significantly to the variation in future time orientation in romantic relationships. The results of the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient showed that psychological birth order positions were related to future time orientation in romantic relationships
Communication and Self-Expansion: Perceptions of Changes in the Self Due to a Close Relationship
No full textBuilding from Aron and Aron’s (2000) Self-Expansion Model, this study was designed to explore the ways that communication in close relationships forms the self. Ninety-two participants (males = 23, females = 68, mean age = 22.2 years) completed a semi-structured, retrospective questionnaire on the ways that a close friendship or romantic relationship had changed who they were as a person. Data were inductively analyzed to describe both the content of the self that changed and the relational processes that led to change. The content of perceived changes in the self was perceived primarily in new ways of relating (52.3%) and changes in self-understanding (29.7%). This self-expansion was generally positive (65% of changes), while 20.1% of growth in the self was simultaneously positive and negative. Three relational processes were perceived to shape the self: 1) communicative events; 2) the discovery of partner differences and similarities; and 3) diffuse qualities of an ongoing relationship. The findings highlight the role of communication in self-expansion
Prolonged infancy and attachment security: Comparative case analysis of children with intellectual disability from India
No full textPeople with intellectual disability possess poor relationship skills and lack attachment relationships. Research has shown that this low relationship building ability is evident right from birth in the interactions with the mother. The present study addresses these two arguments through case study method. 11 children with intellectual disability from a special school at Mangalore, South India were the participants. With the purpose of developing close relationship, the researcher interacted with the participants for an academic year (10 months). The interactions resulted in close relationships for both. Interviews were conducted with mothers, and other significant people to find out the relationship histories. The analyses of the data revealed that children with intellectual disability are able to develop attachment relationship. The prolonged infancy of children with intellectual disability from developmental delays provides more space for infantmother interaction. The relationship orientation and the inheritance right in Indian culture fostered the attachment relationship during prolonged infancy stage for the participants under study. The relationship building ability of children with intellectual disability is as par as any other normal developing individual, provided with an opportunity for sensitive interaction
Interpersonal relationships of elderly in selected old age homes in urban India
No full textNever before have there been so many old people in India. According the 2001 Census of India data, the projected figure for 2031 is 179 million seniors. Dual-career families, changing values, and nuclear family dynamics have altered the social landscape of India. An emerging phenomenon in urban India is the emergence of “pay and stay” homes as a late life living arrangement for middle and higher-income groups. This study focused on selected ‘pay and stay’ homes in the four cities of Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, and Tiruvananthapuram. Personal interviews were conducted with 150 seniors to understand the relocation experience, the extent and nature of self-reported social networks, and evaluation by seniors of this late life arrangement. Majority of respondents were female (65%). More than half of the respondents (58%) reported being currently widowed. Results show that childlessness and strained intergenerational relationships were important considerations in the decision to relocate. Majority of the seniors had never conceived that they would be spending their autumn years away from family. Occupants frequently conceived of their living space as their “home.” Living amidst non-family members, the reported network sizes were small. The absence of family members was frequently cited as a source of dissatisfaction when evaluating these homes
Social Hierarchies, Economic Inequalities and Interpersonal Relationships: An Overview from India
No full textAbject mass poverty is of the key feature of Indian subcontinent. The relationship question, in this paper, is viewed through the lenses of poverty. Thus, the spatial, political, societal and economic questions come to picture when relationships are examined through the eyes of the poor people. Face-to-face interaction, primarily, based on strong social group collective identity is the key hallmark of relationships in India. The social group identity brings hierarchy into the interaction patterns. Thus, even market relations are not merely based on the questions of economic incentives. Social identity deeply penetrates to the huge informal economy that permeates in India. Thus, caught in the web of relationships even at market sphere, the poor people come together to fight, protest and to collaborate for their own well-being