What are 3 factors to consider in the 

Influence of Cultures on Relationships?

(Initials: V&NV, I&C, IL)

Voluntary vs. Non-voluntary

Individualist vs. Collectivist

Importance of Love

Why can Western Cultures afford to choose

their own relationships?

Easy geographical and social mobility so they encounter more people on a daily basis and interact with a larger number of strangers. Therefore have more choice from a wide range of people.

Why is it difficult for Non-Western cultures to choose

their own Relationships?

Less geographical and social mobility means that they have less choice in who they interact with so they know less people. Therefore relationship choice is based more on other factors such as family.

Describe the differences between Western Individualist Cultures Non-Western Collectivist Cultures?

Western = stress importance on rights and happiness of the individual and their own freedom.

Non-Western = focuses on group goals and interests. What the family wants/needs.

Name a Psychologist investigating the importance of love

in Cultural Relationships?

(Initials: L)

Levine et al.

How does Levine et al. investigate the importance of Love in Cultural Relationships?

Asked participants throughout 11 countires, whether they would willingly marry someone who had all their desirable qualities but whom they did not love. US participants showed strong reluctance, whereas collectivist cultures gave higher agreement rates.

Name a Psychologist supporting the 

Influence of Culture?

(Initials: X&W)

Xiaohe & Whyte

Why do Xiaohe and Whyte support the 

Influence of Culture?

Found that women who married for love felt better about their relationships than women in arranged marriages. Suggests Freedom of choice promotes marital stability.

Name a Psychologist criticising the Influence of Cultures

and 3 IDA points?

(M, NV, M, CB)

Myers et al.

Non-Voluntary

Methodological Issues

Cultural Bias

Why does Myers et al. criticise the

Influence of Culture?

Found that there was no difference in marital satisfaction between arranged marriages and non-arranged.

Describe why non-voluntary marriages may

still be beneficial?

Research has shown that parents may be in a better position to judge long-term compatibility than young adults who are blinded by love.

Why are Methodological Issues a problem for the

Influence of Culture?

Many research methods used in this area, were developed in western cultures and so these methods may not work in other cultures where they can be interpreted differently.

Why is Cultural Bias an issue for the

Influence of Culture?

Influence of US romance films created a warped image of the 'perfect' relationship which western adolescents judge to be normal and expected. This could have a maladaptive effect on their own future relationships.