Author Question: Elizabeth and Edwin are very different people who are in a relationship. Are relationships better ... (Read 27 times)

bobbie · **on:** Jun 21, 2018

Elizabeth and Edwin are very different people who are in a relationship. Are relationships better when couples are different (opposites attract) or similar (birds of a feather flock together)?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Explain the difference between dismissing attachment and fearful attachment. Provide an example of each.

What will be an ideal response?

yuyiding · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 21, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: Most of the original research in this area, which focused on attitudes and beliefs, found that similarity is beststrangers with similar attitudes and values were more attracted to each other, and relationships among people with similar beliefs and views lasted longer. Attitudes, however, are not the same as personality. It makes sense that people who have the same attitudes about politics, religion, gender roles, and how to raise a child will have smoother relationshipsthere will be much less to negotiate and argue about. Several recent studies have not found a similarity effect for personality traits such as those of the Big Five. One recent study of married couples, for example, found that couples with similar personalities were actually less satisfied with their marriages in the long run. Another major study found no relationship between personality matching and relationship satisfaction. And in one special case of personalitydominanc ethose of opposite types were actually more attracted to each other, probably because two dominant people in a relationship might have power struggles.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: Fearful people are afraid of getting hurt, and dismissing people just do not care about relationships that much. Fearfully attached individuals think others are difficult to trust, but do want to form relationships. Dismissive people are not as interested in forming relationships. For example, Dismissing Darnell avoids relationships because he does not want to get emotionally close to other people, but he does not feel anxious. He is a bit of a loner and can cause lots of suffering to his significant others when he is in a relationship because he just will not commit fully to them. However, he is very confident and has a positive view of himself. Fearful Fiona, on the other hand, is anxious being in relationships and avoids them. She has a negative view of herself and a negative view of others.