Social PsychologyInterpersonal
AttractionBetter dating through Science!
PSY 1001
Spring 2010
1“I knew we had a lot in common, I’m crazy too!”
Attraction and Relationships
Relatively new to social psychology
Psychologists generally only focus on individuals
Romance and attraction isn’t a ‘scholarly’ thing to study
Relationships have a number of important health benefits.
Men vs Women
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Ideal Qualities in a Romantic Partner1 2 3
Less than me About the same as me
More than me
1 Extraversion
2 Conscientiousness
3 Agreeableness
4 Openness
5 Neuroticism
6 Age
7 Height
8 Education
9 Intelligence
10 Good Looks
11 Social Status
12 Spirituality
13 Dominance
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OverviewWhat leads to attraction?
ProximityMere exposure
Physical attractivenessSimilarity
MatchingMimicry
Attraction-ProximityProximity: We tend to like
people who are closer to us
Festinger et al. (1950s): friendship patterns in dormitories Closer friends with people
who lived near
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Proximity
Why do you think proximity increases attraction?
1) More opportunities to meet, interact
2) People are likely to live near people of similar economic, social backgrounds
3) Mere exposure
AttractionMere exposure
Moreland & Beach (1992): women coming into class; the more they came to class, the more other students liked her
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Which version do you prefer?
A B
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Preferred Qualities in Partners (Buss et al., 1986)
Women Men1) Kind/understanding
Kind/understanding
2) Exciting Personality
Exciting Personality
3) Intelligent Intelligent4) Healthy Physically
Attractive5) Easy Going Healthy6) Physically Attractive
Easy Going
Who do you think is friendlier?
Who do you think is more outgoing?
To whom would you be friendlier?
Physical Attraction
“What Is Beautiful Is Good” stereotypePeople tend to attribute desirable
characteristics such as sociable, friendly, poised, warm, competent, and well adjusted to those who are good looking
Attractive children and adults are judged and treated more favorably
Implications for career & salary12
Walster et al. Computer Dating Study
Freshman “Welcome Week” dance
I.V.sAttractiveness ratedPersonality tests (social skills; introversion-
extroversion; masculinity-femininity; MMPI) IQ
Subjects matched for date (randomly)
D.V.sRated date at intermissionContacted several months later about further dates
Computer Dating StudyPhysical attractiveness the most important
factor
Intelligence and personality were not related to future dating
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Card activityDon’t look at your card.
Match with the person with the highest card who will also agree to match with you.
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AttractivenessPhysical
attractiveness: Hatfield, Berscheid, et al.
(1966):
Randomly matched 752 incoming students as blind dates for an orientation dance
MOST IMPORTANT: physical attractiveness
But… matching effect
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Scent of Symmetry
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Attraction-SimilarityWhat traits did you want to match your partner
on?
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SimilarityCouples tend to be similar in age,
race, religion, social class, personality, education, intelligence, physical attractiveness, and attitudes
Personality similarity related to marital happiness.
Perceived similarity more strongly associated with marital satisfaction than actual similarity
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What personality traits are important to match on?
Malouff, et al. (2010) meta-analysis
Connection between personality traits and relationship satisfaction.
Low neuroticism,
Higher agreeableness, conscientiousness and extraversion.
Matching on Individual Big 5 traits does not predict satisfaction but matching on overall profile does.
SimilarilyTogether
SAT .31*
Phy Attr .32*
Attitudes .50*
Breakup
SAT .17
Phy Attr .16
Attitudes .41*
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SimilarityWhy do we like people like us?
Why does similarity increase relationship satisfaction?
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Mimicry-Similarity in Behavior
When we want to belong to a group or want others to like us, we mimic their behavior.
We like people who mimic our behavior.
But don’t be too obvious!!!
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People get more similar over time
Zajonc et al. (1987)
Dissimilar looking couples at marriage look more similar 25 years later.
Happier couple look more similar
Decades of shared emotions?
Similarity to Pets
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When all else fails…Misattribution of arousal
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Conclusions-SummaryMany factors contribute to attraction
ProximityPhysical attractiveness (matching)Similarity
Importance of personality similaritiesMimicry increased likingWe become more similar to our partners over time