A-Level Psychology: Relationships
Relationships is a popular first option in A-level Psychology, and its questions reward students who can apply a theory to a described couple rather than simply define it. This material follows the relationships content of the revised specifications (for example, AQA's A-level Psychology for first teaching from September 2025, where evolutionary explanations of partner preference have been removed and virtual relationships have become online relationships, now including deception).
The attraction questions cover self-disclosure through social penetration theory, physical attractiveness and the matching hypothesis, with a question on why the original computer-dance findings challenge matching, and Kerckhoff and Davis's filter theory, where you decide which filter matters for a long-term couple.
Three theories of romantic relationships are applied to short cases. You identify the comparison level for alternatives in social exchange theory, sort accurate from inaccurate claims about equity theory, and explain why an unhappy partner stays using the investment size and quality-of-alternatives components of Rusbult's investment model. Duck's phase model is tested twice: the order of the intra-psychic, dyadic, social and grave-dressing phases, and the recognition of a phase from a description.
Online relationships are examined through the absence of gating, the hyperpersonal model versus reduced cues theory, and deception in online profiles. Parasocial relationships cover the three levels of celebrity attitudes and the attachment explanation, while the flashcards and written work add the absorption-addiction model.
The material offers four formats. The 12-question quiz gives an explanation after every answer. The 18 flashcards cover the key terms and theories. The printable written work sets eight open questions, including an extended evaluation, with ruled space for handwritten answers that are then checked. In the oral exam an examiner asks one question at a time, follows up on your evidence and gives precise feedback at the end.
Use it once the topic has been taught, and again before the Paper 3 options, to check that you can apply each theory to a case and support your evaluation with research.
- Explain self-disclosure, physical attractiveness, the matching hypothesis and filter theory as factors in attraction
- Apply social exchange theory, equity theory and Rusbult's investment model to described relationships
- Identify the phases of Duck's model of relationship breakdown from a description
- Explain self-disclosure, deception and the absence of gating in online relationships
- Describe the levels of parasocial relationships and the absorption-addiction and attachment explanations
Practice material written by Zestly, based on the Relationships option in A-level Psychology specifications (for example AQA A-level Psychology 7182, specification for first teaching from September 2025, section 4.3.2).
Sample question
According to social penetration theory (Altman and Taylor), which of the following statements about self-disclosure in developing romantic relationships are accurate? Select all that apply.
- Over time, disclosure increases in depth (more intimate topics) as well as in breadth (a wider range of topics).
- Revealing very intimate details on a first date usually speeds up attraction.
- Reciprocal disclosure, where each partner matches the other's openness, helps intimacy to grow.
- Self-disclosure matters only in online relationships.
See the answer
Over time, disclosure increases in depth (more intimate topics) as well as in breadth (a wider range of topics)., Reciprocal disclosure, where each partner matches the other's openness, helps intimacy to grow.
Social penetration theory compares a relationship to peeling the layers of an onion: partners gradually reveal more, moving from superficial to intimate information. Disclosure needs to be reciprocal to build trust. Revealing too much too early tends to reduce attraction, and self-disclosure matters in face-to-face as well as online relationships.