Relationship Analysis

Relationship Analysis

The type of relationship used as an example and each person’s attachment style.

I grew up in a household where we were taught the value of family. I grew up admiring my parents’ romantic relationship, mainly because they come from different cultural backgrounds. Therefore, I will use my parents’ romantic relationship as an example in this research. The relationship is ideal for understanding the nature of relationships and attachments because they have different attachment styles. My mother has a secure attachment style characterized by thriving in a relationship, lacking the fear of being alone, and having a positive view of oneself. Consequently, my father has a dismissive attachment style characterized by being self-sufficient, independent, and emotionally strong. The attachment styles have been influenced by their backgrounds and personalities.

How the relationship developed, was maintained or ended based on the theories that relate to the chosen relationship.

Relationships grow with time and may transition from healthy to toxic relationships over time and vice versa. The evolution of relationships can be interpreted based on attachment, social exchange, interdependence, and equity theories. The attachment theory posits that the attachment style that people learn as infants and young children influences them throughout their lives and generalizes to all the relationships a person develops with others (Aronson et al., 2019). My father grew up in a large family. My father was the firstborn, and his parents wanted him to set a good example for his siblings. Therefore, he joined the best boarding school away from their neighborhood at eight years old. His experience of being away from his family at a young age made him develop self-sufficiency and independence, and he became emotionally strong. Consequently, my mother grew up in a small family where she received all the attention and love from her parents because she was the only girl with only two siblings, his twin brothers. Therefore, she developed high self-esteem and believed she could accomplish anything she wanted due to her family’s constant support and encouragement. The support and encouragement also made her develop a positive view about herself, the lack of fear of being alone, and the ability to trove in a relationship.

The development of the relationship between my father and mother can be analyzed based on the social exchange theory. The social exchange theory posits that people’s emotional state about a relationship is influenced by the views of the rewards they get from it, their views of the costs they incur, the possibility that they could find a better relationship with another person, and their beliefs about the kind of the relationship they deserve (Aronson et al., 2019). My mother and father’s relationship developed when they worked together as nurses in the same hospital, thus creating a mutually beneficial relationship because they could exchange information to complete tasks. My father later became a doctor and opened his healthcare facility, thus creating an opportunity for my mother to advance her career by becoming a nurse manager in the healthcare facility. The social theory is also evident in how they maintained their relationship because they both had to work together, thus resolving any issues that could put their relationship at risk.

My mother was committed to supporting the hospital’s expansion by training new nurses to maximize rewards from its profitability. According to the interdependence theory, people focus on maximizing rewards and minimizing costs in a relationship. However, my mother and father stopped working together after my elder twin brothers were born because my mother spent most of her time at home taking care of the family. According to the equity theory, people achieve maximum happiness in relationships where both parties get equal costs and rewards. Taking care of the children while still working at the healthcare facility would create unequal costs between my father and mother because my mother would be under too much pressure, thus deciding to end the relationship as coworkers and focus on the romantic relationship.

How the Indian cultural context could impact the relationship, and how the relationship be different if my mother was from the Indian culture and the relationship was in the development or maintenance stage

The Indian culture has maintained the culture of arranged marriages over the years. The Indian cultural context could impact the relationship between my mother and father because they would not have been able to make decisions about the future of their relationship without their parents’ interference. Their relationship could also have been disapproved because they have different cultural backgrounds. If my mother was from the Indian culture and the relationship was in the development or maintenance stage, she could not have been able to constantly meet my father and go on dates with him before her parents approved the relationship. Therefore, her relationship with my father would have been formal, whereby they would only interact as coworkers. According to Madathil & Benshoff (2008), romantic relationships in the Indian culture are considered dangerous, unnecessary, and impractical. Therefore, my mother would have been prohibited from developing a romantic relationship with my father, thus increasing the likelihood of getting married to the person her family chose.

Alignment with the four selected theories still apply in the same way in terms of relationship development or relationship maintenance and additional theory that would be more applicable, and why

The attachment theory, social exchange theory, interdependence theory, and equity theory would still apply the same in terms of relationship development or relationship maintenance if my mother were from the Indian culture because the four concepts focus on an individual’s behavior and personality rather than cultural beliefs. The triangular theory of love could be applied in describing relationship development and maintenance if my mother was from the Indian culture. According to Anderson (2016), the theory posits that love includes intimacy, passion, and commitment. Based on this theory, cultural barriers can be eliminated if the people in the relationship have developed passion and intimacy and are committed to being together.

References

Anderson, J. W. (2016). Sternberg’s triangular theory of love. Encyclopedia of Family Studies, 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119085621.wbefs058

Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., & Sommers, S. (2019). Social psychology (9th Ed.). Pearson College Division.

Madathil, J., & Benshoff, J. M. (2008). Importance of marital characteristics and marital satisfaction: A comparison of Asian Indians in arranged marriages and Americans in marriages of choice. The Family Journal, 16(3), 222-230. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480708317504

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How does attraction happen, and how do relationships form? Attraction and relationships are complex in that they are influenced by numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the age and gender of the partners, the stage of the relationship, and culture.

Relationship Analysis

For this Assignment, you explore the elements of a relationship and the rules and expectations associated with them. You also examine what influences these elements and rules/expectations.

To prepare:

Review Chapter 10 of your course text, Social Psychology, focusing on attachments in childhood and adulthood. Also, focus on the factors involved in attraction, romantic love, relationship satisfaction, and romantic breakups.
Review at least two of the journal articles in this week’s Learning Resources to explore aspects of attraction and romantic relationships in different cultures. (You do not have to read all of the articles.) Think about how people in a different culture might view and behave in relationships. Notice the similarities and differences between that culture and your own.
The Assignment (2–4 pages):

In a 2- to 4-page paper, analyze a personal relationship you have or have had (or a relationship of someone you know well). This relationship may be a romantic relationship or a friendship. Address the following:

Briefly identify the type of relationship you are using as your example and describe each person’s attachment style.
Select at least four concepts or theories from your readings that describe in more depth the relationship and/or how this relationship developed, was maintained or ended. Analyze how these four concepts or theories relate to the relationship you have chosen to assess.
Finally, select a culture presented in one of the articles listed and that neither person is already a part of, in real life. Consider how that cultural context could impact the relationship. Imagine that one or both of the people in the relationship are from this other culture, and the relationship is in the development or maintenance stage. How would the relationship be different? Make connections to what you learned from your selected journal article by discussing some of the research findings.
Would your four selected concepts or theories still apply in the same way in terms of relationship development or relationship maintenance? If not, what would differ? Would another concept or theory be more applicable, and why?

Resources:
Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., & Sommers, S. R. (2019). Social psychology (10th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.
Chapter 10, “Attraction and Relationships: From Initial Impressions to Long-Term Intimacy”
Chapter 13, “Prejudice: Causes, Consequences, and Cures”
Choose two or more of the following articles for review, of which you then write about one:

Arends-Tóth, J., & van de Vijver, F. J. R. (2009). Cultural differences in family, marital, and gender-role values among immigrants and majority members in the Netherlands Links to an external site. International Journal of Psychology, 44(3), 161–169.
Farrer, J., Tsuchiya, H., & Bagrowicz, B. (2008). Emotional expression in tsukiau dating relationships in Japan Links to an external site.. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 25(1), 169– 188.
Hiew, D. N., Kim Halford, W., van de Vijver, F. J. R., & Liu, S. (2015). Relationship standards and satisfaction in Chinese, Western, and Intercultural Chinese couples in Australia Links to an external site. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 46(5), 684– 701.
Madathil, J., & Benshoff, J. (2008). Importance of marital characteristics and marital satisfaction: A comparison of Asian Indians in arranged marriages and Americans in marriages of choice Links to an external site. Family Journal, 16(3), 222–230.
Remennick, L. (2005). Cross-cultural dating patterns on an Israeli campus: Why are Russian immigrant women more popular than men? Links to an external site. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 22(4), 435–454.
Yarhouse, M., & Nowacki, S. (2007). The many meanings of marriage: Divergent perspectives seeking common ground Links to an external site.. Family Journal, 15(1), 36–45.
Davidson, J. (Director), & Davidson, F. (Producer). (2005). Mary Ainsworth: Attachment and the growth of love Links to an external site. [Video file]. Palo Alto, CA: Davidson Films. Retrieved from https://go.openathens.net/redirector/waldenu.edu?url=https://search.alexanderstreet.com/pexp/view/work/1780100

This video demonstrates attachment and the importance of close relationships. A baby monkey uses a cloth mother as a safe haven and a secure base, rather than the nutrition-providing wire monkey.Scroll down past “Segments” until you get to “Clips.” The required 20-second video clip is titled Harlow’s Monkey clip. The entire video is approximately 37 minutes.