Social Relations:
Attraction
Chapter 16, Lecture 5
“Personal beauty is a greater recommendation
than any letter of introduction.”
- Aristotle
The Psychology of Attraction
1. Proximity: Geographic nearness is a powerful
predictor of friendship. Repeated exposure to
novel stimuli increases their attraction (mere
exposure effect).
Rex USA
A rare white penguin
born in a zoo was
accepted after 3 weeks
by other penguins just
due to proximity.
Several years ago the Associated Press carried the
following story from Corvallis, Oregon:
A mysterious student has been attending a class at
Oregon State University for the past two months
enveloped in a big, black bag. Only his bare feet
show. Each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11
o’clock in the morning, the black bag sits on a small
table near the back of the classroom. The class is
Speech 113 – Basic Persuasion…Charles Goetzinger,
professor of the class, knows the identity of the
person inside. None of the twenty students in the
class do. Goetzinger said the students’ attitudes
changed from hostility toward the black bag to
curiosity and finally to friendship.
In 1972, a small coastal town in Ecuador was
confronted with the question of how to deal with their
new mayor, Pulvapies. Pulvapies was fairly elected,
beating his nearest opponent by a comfortable margin.
There was one problem, however. Pulvapies was a foot
deodorant! During the municipal election, the
manufacturer thought it would be clever to post
billboards and distribute fliers simply saying: “For
mayor: Honorable Pulvapies.” Little did he realize that
his honorable deodorant would actually be elected.
Psychology of Attraction
2. Physical Attractiveness: Once proximity
affords contact, the next most important thing
in attraction is physical appearance.
Brooks Kraft/ Corbis
Brooks Kraft/ Corbis
Psychology of Attraction
3. Similarity: Similar views among individuals
causes the bond of attraction to strengthen.
Similarity breeds content!
Romantic Love
Passionate Love: An aroused state of intense
positive absorption in another, usually present at
the beginning of a love relationship.
Two-factor theory of emotion
1. Physical arousal plus cognitive appraisal
2. Arousal from any source can enhance one
emotion depending upon what we interpret or
label the arousal
Romantic Love
Companionate Love: A deep, affectionate attachment
we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined.
Romantic Love
Important components of romantic love:
Equity – a condition in which people receive
from a relationship in proportion to what they
give it.
Self-disclosure – revealing intimate aspects of
oneself to others.
Homework
Read p.712-719
“Indeed, a simple reward theory of attraction –
that we will like those whose behavior is
rewarding to us and that we will continue
relationships that offer more rewards than costs
– can explain all the findings we have
considered so far.”
- David Myers