Week 10 - Attraction and Close Relationships Flashcards
Determinants of Initial Attraction
- Proximity/exposure
- Similarity
- Reciprocal liking
- Physical attractiveness
Festinger et al (1950) housing study
In a university housing complex individuals were asked to list their 3 closest friends and 65% of the responses lived in the same building. Living by stairs and mailboxes had more upstairs friends.
Classroom Study (Moreland & Beach, 1992)
The more often a female confederate attended class the higher students would rate their attractiveness.
Reasons for proximity effect
- More likely to cross paths
- More exposure effect (more we are exposed to stimulus, more we come to like stimulus)
Why does exposure effect happen without conscious recognition?
- Increases perceptual fluency (easy to process)
- Repeated exposure to object + nothing bad happened = safe
Similarity between romantic partners
People become involved romantically with others who are equivalent in physical attractiveness
Friends, dates, and marriage partners similarity
- Demographic variables
- Opinions and personality
- Interpersonal style
- Interests and values
Two-stage model of the attraction process (Byrne, 1986)
Reasons for similarity-attraction
- Social validation function
- Attributions for disagreement
- Reciprocal liking
Curtis & Miller (1986) liking study - IV
Experimenter tells you the other participant likes you or doesn’t like you
Curtis & Miller (1986) liking study - DV
- How much do you like the person?
- How do you act toward them when you meet again?
- How much do they like you?
Curtis & Miller (1986) liking study - Results
Participants reported that they liked the research participant if they knew they liked them back and vice versa
Reasons for reciprocal liking
- Rewarding - feels good to be around someone similar
- Similarity - we like ourselves
Exceptions for reciprocal liking
- Playing hard to get - prefer people who are moderately selective
- Role of self-esteem - lower self-esteem individuals prefer people who criticise them
Physical attractiveness
The more attractive a person is the more positively they are viewed by others
Evidence of more attractive = more positive association
- babies look at attractive faces for longer
- attractive experimenters get more signatures
- attractive suspects get lower bail and fines
- attractive people get paid more
Attractive characteristics
- smooth skin, pleasant expression, youthfulness
- symmetry
- body shape - women (fertility), men (muscles)
Composite faces
Composite faces are more familiar and prototypical
When are composite faces more attractive
- When they’re made out of attractive vs average faces
- Contain an image of ourselves
What are stereotypes about attractive people?
- socially competent
- more sexual, happier, and more assertive
- in US higher in personal strength
- in Korea higher in integrity and concern
Self-fulfilling prophecy design- Snyder, Tanke, and Berscheid (1977)
Male P’s talked to female P’s on the phone and were shown pictures of attractive or unattractive photo of a woman
Self-fulfilling prophecy male results - Snyder, Tanke, and Berscheid (1977)
Males P’s were warmer and more sociable to the female P’s they believed were attractive.
Self-fulfilling prophecy female results - Snyder, Tanke, and Berscheid (1977)
When men responded to attractive female P’s the women rated the male’s as:
- attractive
- confident
- animated
- warm
What do men look for in a partner
- signs of reproductive fitness
- physical appearance (age, health)
- attractiveness, youth
