Interpersonal attraction varies between intimate partners and friendships.
Physical Proximity: Closeness affects the likelihood of forming friendships.
Study showed students who sat near each other were more likely to become friends.
Proximity and familiarity together foster friendships, especially with classmates and coworkers.
Initial Meeting Conditions: First impressions are crucial.
Favorable initial interactions lead to increased friendship likelihood.
Negative environments (e.g., a hot, smelly room) can hinder friendship formation.
Enjoyable situations (e.g., shared hobbies) encourage friendships.
Importance of Similarity: People gravitate toward those who share traits and values.
Similarity in attitudes, abilities, and beliefs promotes relationships.
Balance Theory (Fritz Heider): Friends are likely to have similar views on important topics, creating a balanced relationship.
Impact of Attractiveness: More attractive individuals are perceived positively and are generally more popular.
The Matching Hypothesis: People form relationships with others similar in attractiveness.
Similarity extends to age, social class, education, and core values.
Initiation Phase: Includes crushes and awkward beginnings often marked by false starts.
Status Phase: Teenage dating focused on peer approval rather than genuine connection.
Affection Stage: Growth of genuine relationships characterized by intimacy and care.
Bonding Stage: Greater commitment, where individuals consider long-term relationships.
Defines relationships based on three dimensions: intimacy, passion, and commitment.
Intimacy: Involves sharing thoughts and support.
Passion: Entails physical attraction and sexual fulfillment.
Commitment: Involves dedication to a relationship.
Liking: Intimacy without passion or commitment (e.g., workplace friendships).
Infatuation: Passion without intimacy or commitment (e.g., love at first sight).
Empty Love: Commitment without passion or intimacy (e.g., arranged marriages).
Romantic Love: Combination of intimacy and passion (e.g., intimate partnerships).
Companionate Love: Affectionate bonds seen in long-term relationships without passionate elements.
Fatuous Love: Passion and commitment without intimacy (e.g., rapid marriages like that of Romeo and Juliet).
Intimacy often peaks and then declines; passion levels off over time.
Commitment remains a strong predictor of long-term relationship success.
Typical trajectory: initial attraction -> growing liking -> increased commitment -> potential transition to companionate love.
Relationship patterns can vary widely; no single trajectory fits all experiences.