Explain how and why the following factors affect interpersonal attraction: (1) familiarity, including the effects of physical proximity; (2) similarity and the concept of homogamy; (3) physical attractiveness and how it affects males and females differently; and (4) reciprocity

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer will include (1) Familiarity: In general, we are attracted to people we are familiar with. In fact, our choice of friends, and even lovers is based more on physical proximity (nearness) than we might care to believe. Proximity promotes attraction by increasing the frequency of contact between people. The closer people live to each other, the more likely they are to become friends. Although there does seem to be a "boy-next-door" or "girl-next-door" effect in romantic attraction, and a "folks-next-door" effect in friendship, the Internet is making it increasingly easier to stay in constant "virtual contact," which is leading to more and more long-distance friendships and romances. (2) Similarity refers to how alike you are to another person in background, age, interests, attitudes, beliefs, and so forth. In everything from casual acquaintance to marriage, similar people are attracted to each other because it is reinforcing to see our beliefs and attitudes shared by others. It shows we are "right" and reveals that they are clever people as well. In choosing a mate we also tend to marry someone who is like us in almost every way, a pattern called homogamy. Studies show that married couples are highly similar in age, education, ethnicity, and religion and, to a lesser degree, in attitudes and opinions, mental abilities, status, height, weight, and eye color. Homogamy also applies to unmarried couples who are living together. (3) Physical attractiveness: People who are physically attractive are regarded as good-looking by others and are generally rated as more appealing than average due to the halo effect. The halo effect is the tendency to generalize a favorable impression to unrelated personal characteristics. Thus, because of the halo effect, we assume that attractive people are also likable, intelligent, warm, witty, mentally healthy, and socially skilled. However, beauty is a factor mainly in initial acquaintance. Later, more meaningful qualities gain in importance. In fact, as you discover that someone has a good personality, he or she will even start looking more attractive to you. (4) Reciprocity, which occurs when people respond to each other in similar ways, may be the most important factor influencing the development of friendships. Most people find it easier to reciprocate to someone else's overtures than to be the initiator. That way, at least the embarrassment of an outright rejection can be avoided.