Discuss Two Explanations into the Formation of Relationships

Discuss two explanations into the formation of relationships

There is a behaviourist or learning explanation called the Reward/ Need Satisfaction Model which focuses on conditioning as an explanation for the formation of a relationship.

Operant conditioning focuses on the idea that rewarding stimuli make us happy and punishing stimuli make us unhappy which makes us ward to repeat behaviours that make us happy. Therefore people who are rewarding to us are more attractive to us and vice versa.

Research Support of this is shown through Aron 2005 who found that participants who measured very high on a self-report questionnaire of romantic love also showed high levels of dopamine. This suggests that biological reward pathways are stimulated when our needs are met so we are reinforced by the dopamine as well as having our needs met.

Classical conditioning says that if you were to meet someone while having a negative attitude then they would be associated with a negative time or event that would cause you to dislike them, however should they be associated with a pleasant event then you will be more likely to be attracted to them because you have a positive attitude.

The Reward Need Satisfaction theory is culturally and gender biased. Lott 1994 suggests that in many cultures women are more focused on the needs of others rather receiving reinforcement. This would indicate that the RNS theory is not accurate when trying to compare relationships indifferent cultures. Cate et al 1982 asked 337 individuals to assess their current relationships in terms of reward level and satisfaction. Although they found that rewards were the most important factor in determining relationship satisfaction, Hays 1985 found that we gain as much from giving as well as receiving. The RNS theory does not account for giving as well as receiving in the formation of relationships.

There is another theory into the