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Relationships – AQA A-level Psychology Topic Overview
The Relationships topic explores the psychological processes behind romantic relationships, from how they form to how they are maintained and why they sometimes break down. It examines both evolutionary and social explanations of human mating behaviour, supported by research studies and theoretical models.

Key areas of study include:

Theories of Relationship Formation
Self-Disclosure – How revealing personal information helps develop intimacy.
Physical Attractiveness – The role of facial symmetry, the matching hypothesis, and evolutionary factors.
Filter Theory – How proximity, similarity, and values act as filters in partner selection.
Theories of Relationship Maintenance
Social Exchange Theory – The cost-benefit analysis in relationships.
Equity Theory – The importance of fairness and balance.
Investment Model – Factors that contribute to commitment (investment, satisfaction, alternatives).
Relationship Breakdown
Duck’s phase model of relationship breakdown, including stages like dissatisfaction and grave-dressing.
Virtual Relationships in Social Media
Differences between computer-mediated and face-to-face relationships, including reduced cues theory and the hyperpersonal model.
Parasocial Relationships
One-sided relationships with celebrities or media figures, including explanations such as the absorption-addiction model and attachment theory.
This topic blends cognitive, social, and evolutionary perspectives, offering insights into how relationships develop and why people behave the way they do in romantic and parasocial connections.