Human Relationship

s Unit:Interperson

al Relationship

s Learning Objective:

Analyze why relationships may change or end

Why relationships change or end

• Infidelity• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

KG3oMlDhcrw• http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/

helen_fisher_tells_us_why_we_love_cheat.html

• MHC genes are too similar• http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=birth-co

ntrol-pills-affect-womens-taste

• Social exchange theory (Kelley and Thibaut, 1959)• http://family.jrank.org/pages/1595/Social-Exchange-Theory

-Major-Contemporary-Concepts.html

• Based on cost-benefit analysis where cost of relationship must not outweigh the benefits

• Equity theory (Walster, 1978) social• http://www2.hawaii.edu/~elaineh/42.pdf• Equality is important in maintenance of fidelity• Individuals who feel deprived or under-benefited are more

likely to cheat than individuals who feel fairly treated or over-benefited (Hatfield, 1979)

• Fatal attraction theory (Felmlee, 1995)• http://www.helium.com/items/171662-the-

make-or-break-theory-of-fatal-attraction• Factor that caused initial attraction is also

responsible for its ultimate demise• A musician that lives freely and day-to-day is

initially attractive but long-term his partner may view him as undesirable to settle down with