💖 Quick Study Guide: Interpersonal Attraction
- 📍 Proximity: Geographic nearness is a powerful predictor of liking. The mere exposure effect states that repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases our liking of them.
- ✨ Physical Attractiveness: Influences first impressions and is often associated with health, happiness, and social competence (the 'halo effect'). However, cultural standards vary.
- 👯♀️ Similarity: We tend to be attracted to those who are similar to us in attitudes, interests, values, and even physical appearance (matching hypothesis). Opposites rarely attract long-term.
- 🤝 Reciprocity: We like those who like us. This mutual exchange of positive feelings can fuel attraction.
- ❤️🩹 Romantic Love: Often categorized into passionate love (an aroused state of intense positive absorption, usually at the beginning of a relationship) and companionate love (a deep, affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined).
- ⚖️ Social Exchange Theory: Our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize costs. We weigh the rewards and costs of a relationship.
- 📈 Equity Theory: People are most satisfied with a relationship when the ratio between benefits and contributions is similar for both partners.
📝 Practice Quiz: Interpersonal Attraction
- Which of the following concepts best explains why we are more likely to form friendships with people who live or work near us?
A) Matching hypothesis
B) Mere exposure effect
C) Reciprocity norm
D) Proximity principle - The phenomenon where repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases our liking of them is known as the:
A) Halo effect
B) Similarity-attraction effect
C) Mere exposure effect
D) Equity principle - According to the matching hypothesis, people tend to choose partners who:
A) Are physically more attractive than themselves
B) Complement their personality traits
C) Have a similar level of physical attractiveness to themselves
D) Offer greater social status or wealth - A deep, affectionate attachment for those with whom our lives are intertwined is best described as:
A) Passionate love
B) Companionate love
C) Romantic love
D) Fatuous love - The belief that 'opposites attract' is generally contradicted by research on interpersonal attraction, which instead emphasizes the importance of:
A) Physical attractiveness
B) Proximity
C) Similarity
D) Reciprocity - Which theory suggests that our social behavior is an exchange process, where we aim to maximize benefits and minimize costs in relationships?
A) Equity theory
B) Cognitive dissonance theory
C) Social exchange theory
D) Attribution theory - Sarah believes that her relationship with Mark is fair because both of them contribute equally to household chores and emotional support. This aligns best with which concept?
A) Social exchange theory
B) Reciprocity norm
C) Halo effect
D) Equity theory
💡 Click to see Answers
1. D) Proximity principle
2. C) Mere exposure effect
3. C) Have a similar level of physical attractiveness to themselves
4. B) Companionate love
5. C) Similarity
6. C) Social exchange theory
7. D) Equity theory