19. Interpersonal Attraction

Lecture 19, Ch. 14

Four Person Factors Influencing Attraction

1. proximity

2. similarity

3. physiological arousal

4. physical attractiveness

Proximity: Westgate Housing Study

_______ relationship between friendship & distance

linear relationship between friendship & distance

Why does proximity influence attraction?

(2)

1. opportunity for interactions → more likely to interact, more interaction = more more likely to become friends

2. mere exposure effect → like novel stimuli more after repeated exposure

Similarity: Hinsz Study of Facial Similarity of Couples vs Random Pairs

Perceived vs. Actual Similarity

(Tidwell, Eastwick, & Finkel — Speed-Dating Study)

perceived > actual similarity for romantic liking

Why does similarity influence attraction?

(3)

Physiological Arousal: Capilano Bridge Study

misattribution of arousal to the experimenter rather than the bridge

Physical Attractiveness: What is beautiful?

universally prefer facial symmetry