Close Encounters: Communication in Relationships
Video and Multimedia
Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.
The Science of Attraction—Dawn Maslar
Description: In this Ted Talk, Dawn Maslar explains how biology plays a role in finding a potential romantic partner. Which biological factor do you think matters the most in romantic relationships?
The Science of Attraction—The Capilano Bridge
Description: In this video, Chris Shepherd walks you through the Capilano Bridge Study to explain how the excitation transfer process works in an engaging manner. How can you use the excitation transfer process to your advantage in the formulation of new relationships?
36 questions that make strangers fall in love
Description: In this experiment, two strangers ask each other 36 questions to determine whether they would fall in love in the end. Based on what you learned about the various factors that influence attraction, how would you explain the outcome of the experiment?
Standards of beauty if not universal
Description: Box 3.2 explores whether beauty is cultural or universal. In this video, Dr. Bev Knox argues that the standards of beauty are based on cultural factors. Would you agree or disagree with her viewpoint on beauty?
Profile Pictures—Science of Attraction
Description: This video illustrates a social networking site experiment to determine the online attractiveness of profile pictures. What makes us display the most attractive profile pictures in social networking sites? Does profile picture attractiveness makes you more socially attractive? How do men and women differ in their perceptions of attractiveness in profile pictures?
Sex Science Matching Phenomenon
Description: Dr. Ross explains the matching hypothesis by illustrating an attraction experiment. Why do people seem to match with others who are similar in attraction? How does similarity impact mating choices?
Audio Links
Success of the smelliest—Sexual attraction and pheromones
Description: In this University of Oxford talk, Dr. Tristram Wyatt discusses the role of pheromones in triggering sexual attraction. Would you agree or disagree with his arguments about the role of pheromones and evolution in sexual attraction?
Do opposites attract? Attractiveness and differences among couples
Description: Do opposite couples attract? This podcast discusses the findings of two attraction studies to determine whether similarity impacts trust.
When dating in the era of divisive politics, both sides stick to themselves
Description: Chapter 3 discusses fatal attraction and complementary relationships. This NPR podcasts discusses how political attitudes can dictate individuals’ dating choices. As a result, several political dating websites have emerged in the modern political landscape.
Web Links
When friends and family disapprove of your relationship: Is the “Romeo and Juliet effect” real?
Description: The “Romeo and Juliet” effect explains relational attraction after parental disapproval. Dr. Karen Blair blogs on the Science of Relationships about how social approval can impact one’s satisfaction levels in a relationship. Have you ever experienced the “Romeo and Juliet” effect?
My, how attractive you are (right now)!
Description: The Social Relations Collaborative blog hosted by Dr. Colleen Sinclair provides blogs on attractiveness and relationships. Investigate the role of biological and environmental factors of social and physical attractiveness.
How (and why) to play hard to get
Description: Examine this Psychology Today blog on the best and worst tactics to adopt when “playing hard to get.” Have you ever played hard to get? If so, was this technique successful? Why or why not?
Description: Can modifying one’s personal appearance be manipulation? To what extent can one manipulate one’s face without deception? Engage in this interactive activity and see if you can recreate the attractiveness of your face, given your selected gender using social scientific concepts such as facial symmetry, facial neoteny, and facial maturity.
Facebook Friends and Attraction
Description: In this Psychology Today blog, Dr. Jack Schafer describes how similarity plays a role in the development of Facebook relationships. How does your social networking site influence your attractiveness on Facebook?
Blinq Dating App Uses AI to Judge Hotness
- https://techcrunch.com/2016/01/11/blinq-dating-app-uses-ai-to-judge-hotness/
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3386686/Dating-app-rates-attractiveness-selfies.html
Description: The University of Zurich has developed a Swiss dating app called Blinq to rate the attractiveness of the “selfies” provided by its users. This mobile app uses artificial intelligence to rank photos based on attractiveness. Explore the articles to determine whether you would use this mobile device to rate your attractiveness level. What personal qualities would you ascribe to the users of this app?