10 - Interpersonal relationships

Interpersonal relationships

© SPMM Course Flavell et al. (1986) noted that children older than 4 years old distinguish appearance from reality and show an ability to discuss objects that have misleading appearances (‘it looks like an apple but it is really a ball’). Note that when task demands are reduced, even 15-month old show some signs of ToM. Furthermore, many children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome, can pass first order tests albeit at a developmentally later age (average 5.5 years according to Happe et al., 1995)

Second-order false belief tasks These tasks relate to the understanding that other people (a second person) can have their own thoughts about another (third) person’s state of mind. Second-order tests involve inferring one person’s thoughts about another person’s mental state e.g. What Jim thinks that Varun thinks. These tests are usually passed by the age of 6 years in typically developing children. Children with autistic spectrum disorders may never pass second-order false belief tasks or pass only by teenagers. Key neural regions for normal ToM are considered to be the amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, inferior parietal and medial frontal cortex.

Interpersonal relationships Following factors influence relationships:

1. Proximity: minimal requirement for most relationships.
2. Exposure refers to reciprocal disclosure – this may enhance the relationship. Females do more self-disclosure than males.
3. Similarity – may increase self-esteem in a relationship as one gets validation for similar interests.
4. Complementarity – not so important initially but increases in importance as a longterm relationship develops.
5. Compatibility is proportional to both similarity and complementarity. Types of love:  Companionate love: True or conjugal love where intimacy and commitment seen; passion is not high.  Passionate love: intimate and passionate but not much commitment – obsessive, romantic and infatuated.  Consummate love: intimacy, passion and commitment all well mixed.