Author Question: Which is most true, opposites attract or birds of a feather flock together? Explain your position. ... (Read 126 times)

anjilletteb · **on:** Jun 22, 2018

Which is most true, opposites attract or birds of a feather flock together? Explain your position.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

According to Shelly Taylor and her colleagues, why is the behavioral tendency toward affiliation stronger in females than males?

What will be an ideal response?

Brenm · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

There is a considerable body of social psychology research showing that we are most attracted to those who are similar to us in our behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, and world views (Berscheid & Reis, 1998; McPherson, Smith-Lovin, & Cook, 2001). Though we may have some opposite traits that add balance to our relationships, if they are too extreme then we are more likely to have diverging needs and goals. These can lead us to sacrifice fulfillment of certain needs and interests, to go it alone, or try to get the other person in the relationship to accommodate our needs.

Answer to Question 2

Indeed, men are behaviorally more likely to fight or flee when threatened; however, they argue that women are more likely to affiliateto seek out others in order to form groups for joint protection. Fight-or-flight behaviors for women, they contend, are not adaptive to survival of the species when women are responsible for carrying a child in pregnancy and later nursing and tending to the child when the child is most vulnerable. They note that it is safer for the protection of her offspring for a pregnant woman or a woman with a child to seek protection in groups than to fight or flee when confronted with a threat (e.g., a predator). Thus, they contend, this behavioral tendency toward affiliation is stronger in females than males.