Why do we form, maintain and end relationships?
Social relationships: the nature of social relationships, explanations of why relationships form, are maintained and break down, factors affecting attraction, and the research evidence and methods used to study relationships.
The SQA Higher Psychology Social Behaviour optional topic on social relationships: factors affecting attraction, explanations of why relationships form and are maintained such as social exchange and equity theory, why relationships break down, and the research evidence and methods used to study them.
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What this dot point is asking
Social relationships is an optional Social Behaviour topic, so it can appear as a -mark question in the additional-topic section. The SQA wants you to describe the factors affecting attraction, explain why relationships form, are maintained and break down, and use research evidence and methods to support and evaluate these explanations.
The answer
Factors affecting attraction
Social exchange theory
Equity theory
Why relationships break down
Examples in context
Research on proximity shows that physical and functional closeness, such as living in the same building or sharing a stairway, strongly predicts who becomes friends, supporting the mere-exposure account of attraction. Studies of satisfaction and commitment support social exchange and the investment idea: people are more committed when they are satisfied, have few attractive alternatives, and have invested time and effort, which explains why some stay in unrewarding relationships. Work on equity finds that partners who feel the relationship is fair report higher satisfaction than those who feel over-benefited or under-benefited, supporting equity theory over a pure profit account. Much of this evidence is correlational and drawn from Western, individualist cultures, which limits how far it generalises, a point strong answers raise in evaluation. A Higher answer that pairs a theory with two or three of these studies and judges the fit reaches the top band.
Try this
Q1. Name two factors that affect interpersonal attraction. [2 marks]
- Cue. Proximity (seeing people often), physical attractiveness, similarity of attitudes, or reciprocal liking.
Q2. Explain the difference between social exchange theory and equity theory. [6 marks]
- Cue. Social exchange theory is about profit (rewards minus costs, judged against alternatives); equity theory is about fairness (balanced inputs and outputs), so a fair relationship satisfies even with lower profit.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA Higher (optional topic)20 marksExplain one theory of why relationships are maintained and evaluate the supporting evidence.Show worked answer →
A -mark question split between KU and analysis or evaluation. Around to marks reward an accurate account of a theory, such as social exchange theory: people stay in a relationship when the rewards outweigh the costs, judged against a comparison level (what they expect) and a comparison level for alternatives (what else is available).
The remaining marks reward use and evaluation of evidence. Strong answers cite research on satisfaction, costs and alternatives, then weigh the theory: it explains why some unhappy relationships continue (few alternatives) but is criticised as too economic and for ignoring fairness, which equity theory addresses. A reasoned judgement is the discriminator.
SQA Higher (optional topic)12 marksExplain two factors that affect interpersonal attraction.Show worked answer →
A -mark question, roughly half KU and half analysis. Markers reward developed explanation rather than a list.
Strong choices include proximity (we are attracted to those we are physically near and see often, the mere-exposure effect) and similarity (we are attracted to those who share our attitudes and interests). Analysis marks come from explaining why each increases attraction and supporting it with evidence, for example the finding that physical and functional closeness predicts who forms friendships.
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