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Companies that enable people to meet potential romantic partners are becoming increasingly popular - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 5 - 2017 - Paper 3
Question 5
Companies that enable people to meet potential romantic partners are becoming increasingly popular. Some companies include a series of questions during registration ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Companies that enable people to meet potential romantic partners are becoming increasingly popular - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 5 - 2017 - Paper 3
Step 1
Evaluate how far the biological approach can explain human behaviour such as meeting potential romantic partners.
Answer
The biological approach to understanding human behavior posits that many aspects of our interactions, including forming romantic relationships, are influenced by biological factors. This includes genetic predispositions, hormones, and evolutionary factors.
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Genetics: Research suggests that attraction can be influenced by genetic factors. Certain traits deemed attractive may enhance reproductive success, leading to the evolution of specific preferences across populations. For Mandy, the matches she has been recommended may align with traits her biology finds appealing, showing a potential genetic basis to attraction.
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Hormones: Hormonal influences, particularly those from oxytocin and dopamine, play a crucial role in bonding and attraction. When meeting potential partners, these hormones can create feelings of pleasure and attachment, which may explain why Mandy feels drawn to the recommended matches.
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Evolutionary psychology: From an evolutionary standpoint, the need to find a compatible mate is crucial for species survival. The recommendations from the dating service may have been designed to identify partners who share Mandy's interests, improving the likelihood of pair bonding, which would be supported by her biological imperatives.
However, while the biological approach provides insight, it has limitations:
- Interpersonal Factors: The biological approach might fail to account for the complex social interactions and personal experiences that contribute to relationship formation. Mandy's choice to engage with a dating service reflects a more socially driven behavior that transcends biological explanations.
- Cultural Influences: Cultural norms and values can heavily influence attraction and relationship dynamics, which aren't purely biological. Mandy's mother's perspective highlights a viewpoint that values social and emotional aspects of relationships over purely biological factors.
In conclusion, while the biological approach can explain some of the tendencies in Mandy's situation, it does not fully account for the complexities of human interactions, particularly in a sociocultural context.