Social psychology assignment

Interpersonal Attraction

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN

FOUNDATION IN NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENTS

GROUP MEMBERS: KIMBERLEY EE SZE ANN (0315319),

KAWTHAR RASHID JEEWA (0314832)

LEE YAUE SHEN (0315381),

YUAN KHAI SHIEN (0314818),

KELVIN NG (0315381),

AYUNI NORDIN.

SOCIAL PSYCOLOGY (PSYC0103)

LECTURER: PANG CHIA YEE

SUBMISSION DATE: 22ND

JANUARY 2014


Running head: Interpersonal Attraction

Interpersonal Attraction: Types of attraction (social attraction, physical attraction and task

attraction) that influence a person when choosing a life partner.

KIMBERLEY EE SZE ANN (0315319),

KAWTHAR JEEWA (0314832)

LEE YAUE SHEN (0315381),

YUAN KHAI SHIEN (0314818),

KELVIN NG (0315381).

Group Research Assignment


Acknowledgement

Firstly, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to our lecturer, Miss Chia Yee Pang for

giving us the opportunity to carry out this assignment on the conduction of psychological

research. We are grateful for all the support and guidance that you gave us in carrying out our

research and investigation.

Furthermore, we must give thanks to Taylor’s University for allowing us to conduct our

research on campus premises.

Lastly, we would like to thank all the participants involved in this study for their time and

willingness to coorporate with us in completing our research assignment.


Table of Contents

Acknowledgement……………………………………………………………………..…ii

Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………iii

ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………2

INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………...3

METHOD………………………………………………………………………………..4

Participants……………………………………………………………………….20

Materials /Apparatus……………………………………………………………..20

Procedure………………………………………………………………………...23

RESULTS………………………………………………………………………………..25

DISCUSSION………………………………………………………………………..30

REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………..55

APPENDICES…………………………………………………………………………...62

Appendix A: Questionnaire………………………………..……….62

Appendix B : Tabulated Scores of Participants………………………………..……….


Abstract

This study examined the types of attraction (social attraction, physical attraction and task

attraction) that influence a person when choosing a life partner. One hundred participants were

given survey forms based on the Interpersonal Attraction Scale by McCroskey and McCain

(1974) and asked to fill in the questions with respect to either a commited partner, a new/casual

partner or an ideal partner. The purpose of the survey was to identify how the types of attraction

(social attraction, physical attraction and task attraction) influence a person when choosing a life

partner. The main hypotheses was that the majority of people would be greater influenced by

physical attraction when choosing a life partner as proven by McCroskey and McCain (1974).


Interpersonal Attraction:

Types of attraction (social attraction, physical attraction and task attraction) that influence a

person when choosing a life partner.


Method

Participants

100 university students participated in this study. The participants ranged from 13 to 17

years old to 33 years old and above. 57 of the participants were male while 43 were female.

Following is a graph showing age and sex of participants involved in the survey:

Materials / Apparatus

Questionnaires were used to collect data from participants. The questionnaires were used

to identify the participants general demographics (sex and age). Participants were then asked

questions relating to the Interpersonal Attraction Scale by McCroskey and McCain (1974). They

were asked to identify the type of individual they would be anwering the survey about (a

commited partner, a new/casual partner, or an ideal partner).

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

13-17 18-22 23-27 28-32 33 andabove

No

. o

f P

art

icip

an

ts

Age

Graph Showing Age and Sex of Participants

Male

Female


Procedure

Participants were informed that the study was to investigate the types of attraction (social

attraction, physical attraction and task attraction) that influence a person when choosing a life

partner. The purpose of the survey was clearly printed on the questionnaire while participants

were verbally informed that they had the right to withdraw from the survey at any time. The

participants were each handed a questionnaire and given some time to fill in the answers. The

questionnaires were collected once participants were ready to hand them in.


Results

Types of Attraction Desired by Females in a Committed Partner

Nine female participants answered the questionnaire based on a committed partner. One female

participant was aged 13-17 years old, six female participants were aged 18-22 years old, one

female participant was aged 28-32 years old and one female participant was aged 33 and above.

No participants from age group 23-27 answered the questionnaire based on a committed partner.

One out of one (100%) of female participants aged 13-17 scored a committed partner highest in

physical attraction. This means that 100% of female participants aged 13-17 would choose a

committed partner based on physical attraction rather than social or task attraction.

Two out of six (33%) of female participants aged 18-22 scored a committed partner highest in

physical attraction and four out of six (67%) of female participants aged 18-22 scored a

committed partner highest in social attraction. This means that 33% of female participants aged

18-22 would choose a committed partner based on physical attraction rather than social or task

attraction and 67% of female participants aged 18-22 would choose a committed partner based

on social attraction rather than physical or task attraction.

One out of one (100%) of female participants aged 28-32 scored a committed partner highest in

social attraction. This means that 100% of female participants aged 28-32 would choose a

committed partner based on social attraction rather than physical or task attraction.

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

13-17 18-22 23-27 28-32 33 and

above

No

of

Pa

rtic

ipa

nts

Age

Graph of Types of Attraction Desired by Females in a

Committed Partner

Physical Attraction

Social Attraction

Task Attraction


One out of one (100%) of female participants aged 33 and above scored a committed partner

highest in physical attraction. This means that 100% of female participants aged 33 and above

would choose a committed partner based on physical attraction rather than social or task

attraction.

The highest type of attraction desired by female participants aged 13-17 and 33 and above in a

committed partner was physical attraction while the highest type of attraction desired by female

participants aged 18-22 and 28-32 was social attraction.


Types of Attraction Desired by Females in an Ideal Partner

22 female participants answered the questionnaire based on an ideal partner. One female

participant was aged 13-17 years old, 18 female participants were aged 18-22 years old, two

female participants were aged 23-27 years old and one female participant was aged 33 and

above. No participants from age group 28-32 answered the questionnaire based on an ideal

partner.

One out of one (100%) of female participants aged 13-17 scored an ideal partner highest in

physical attraction. This means that 100% of female participants aged 13-17 would choose an

ideal partner based on physical attraction rather than social or task attraction.

Three out of 18 (17%) of female participants aged 18-22 scored an ideal partner highest in

physical attraction, 13 out of 18 (72%) of female participants aged 18-22 scored an ideal partner

highest in social attraction and two out of 18 (11%) of female participants aged 18-22 scored an

ideal partner highest in task attraction. This means that 17% of female participants aged 18-22

would choose an ideal partner based on physical attraction rather than social or task attraction,

72% of female participants aged 18-22 would choose an ideal partner based on social attraction

rather than physical or task attraction and 11% of participants ages 18-22 would choose an ideal

partner based on task attraction rather than physical or social attraction.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

13-17 18-22 23-27 28-32 33 and

above

No

of

Pa

rtic

ipa

nts

Age

Graph of Types of Attraction Desired by Females in an

Ideal Partner

Physical Attraction

Social Attraction

Task Attraction


Two out of two (100%) of female participants aged 23-27 scored an ideal partner highest in

social attraction. This means that 100% of female participants aged 23-27 would choose an ideal

partner based on social attraction rather than physical or task attraction.

One out of one (100%) of female participants aged 33 and above scored an ideal partner highest

in social attraction. This means that 100% of female participants aged 33 and above would

choose an ideal partner based on social attraction rather than physical or task attraction.

The highest type of attraction desired by female participants aged 13-17 in an ideal partner was

physical attraction while the highest type of attraction desired by female participants aged 18-22,

23-27 and 33 and above in an ideal partner was social attraction.


Types of Attraction Desired by Females in a New/Casual Partner

12 female participants answered the questionnaire based on a new/casual partner. One female

participant was aged 13-17 years old, eight female participants were aged 18-22 years old, two

female participants were aged 23-27 years old and one female participant was aged 33 and

above. No participants from age group 28-32 answered the questionnaire based on a new/casual

partner.

One out of one (100%) of female participants aged 13-17 scored a new/casual partner highest in


new/casual partner based on social attraction rather than physical or task attraction.

Two out of eight (25%) of female participants aged 18-22 scored a new/casual partner highest in

physical attraction and six out of eight (75%) of female participants aged 18-22 scored a

new/casual partner highest in social attraction. This means that 25% of female participants aged

18-22 would choose a new/casual partner based on physical rather than social or task attraction

and 75% of female participants would choose a new/casual partner based on social attraction

rather than physical or task attraction.

Two out of two (100%) of female participants aged 23-27 scored a new/casual partner highest in


new/casual partner based on social attraction rather than physical or task attraction.

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

13-17 18-22 23-27 28-32 33 and

above

No

. o

f P

art

icip

ati

on

Age

Graph of Types of Attraction Desired by Females in A

New/Casual Partner

Physical Attraction

Social Attraction

Task Attraction


One out of one (100%) of female participants aged 33 and above scored a new/casual partner

highest in social attraction. This means that 100% of female participants aged 33 and above

would choose a new/casual partner based on social attraction rather than physical or task

attraction.

The highest type of attraction desired by female participants aged 13-17, 18-22, 23-27 and 33

and above in a new/casual partner was social attraction.


Types of Attraction Desired by Males in a Committed Partner

21 male participants answered the questionnaire based on a committed partner. One male

participant was aged 13-17 years old, 19 male participants were aged 18-22 years old and two

male participants were aged 28-32 years old. No participants from age groups 23-27 and 33 and

above answered the questionnaire based on a committed partner.

One out of one (100%) of male participants aged 13-17 scored a committed partner highest in

physical attraction. This means that these participants would choose a committed partner based

on physical attraction rather than social or task attraction.

12 out of 19 (63%) of male participants aged 18-22 scored a committed partner highest in

physical attraction. 6 out of 19 (32%) of male participants aged 18-22 scored a committed

partner highest in social attraction. 1 out of 19 (5%) of male participants aged 18-22 scored a

committed partner highest in task attraction. This means that 63% of male participants aged 18-

22 would choose a committed partner based on physical attraction rather than social or task

attraction, 32% of male participants aged 18-22 would choose a committed partner based on

social attraction rather than physical or task attraction and 5% of male participants aged 28-32

would choose a committed partner based on task attraction rather than physical or social

attraction.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

13-17 18-22 23-27 28-32 33 and

above

No

. o

f P

art

icip

an

ts

Age

Graph of Types of Attraction Desired by Males in a

Committed Partner

Physical Attraction

Social Attraction

Task Attraction


One out of one male (100%) participants aged 28-32 scored a committed partner highest in social

attraction. This means that these participants would choose a committed partner based on social

attraction rather than physical or task attraction.

The highest type of attraction desired by male participants aged 13-17 in a committed partner

was physical attraction while the highest type of attraction desired by male participants aged 18-

22 in their ideal partner was also physical attraction. The highest type of attraction desired by

males aged 28-32 was social attraction.


Types of Attraction Desired by Males in an Ideal Partner

27 male participants answered the questionnaire based on their ideal partner. One male

participant was aged 13-17 years old while 26 male participants were aged 18-22 years old. No

participants from age groups 23-27, 28-32 and 33 and above answered the questionnaire based

on an ideal partner.

One out of one (100%) of male participants aged 13-17 scored their ideal partner highest in

social attraction. This means that these participants would choose an ideal partner based on

social attraction rather than physical or task attraction.

11 out of 26 (42%) of male participants aged 18-22 scored their ideal partner highest in physical

attraction. 13 out of 26 (50%) of male participants aged 18-22 scored their ideal partner highest

in social attraction. Two out of 26 (8%) of male participants aged 18-22 scored their ideal partner

highest in task attraction. This means that 42% of male participants aged 18-22 would choose an

ideal partner based on physical attraction rather than social or task attraction, 50% of participants

aged 18-22 would choose an ideal partner based on social attraction rather than physical or task

attraction and 8% of participants aged 18-22 would choose an ideal partner based on task

attraction rather than physical or social attraction.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

13-17 18-22 23-27 28-32 33 and

above

No

. o

f p

art

icip

an

ts

Age

Graph of Types of Attraction Desired by Males an

Ideal Partner

Physical Attraction

Social Attraction

Task Attraction


The highest type of attraction desired by male participants aged 13-17 in their ideal partner was

social attraction while the highest type of attraction desired by male participants aged 18-22 in

their ideal partner was also social attraction.


Types of Attraction Desired by Males in a New/Casual Partner

Nine male participants answered the questionnaire based on a new/casual partner. Six male

participants were aged 18-22 years old, two male participants were aged 23-27 years old and one

male participant was aged 28-32 years old. No participants from age groups 13-17 and 33 and

above answered the questionnaire based on a new/casual partner.

Three out of six (50%) of male participants aged 18-22 scored a new/casual partner highest in

physical attraction and three out of six (50%) of male participants aged 18-22 scored a

new/casual partner highest in social attraction. This means that 50% of male participants aged

18-22 would choose a new/casual partner based on physical attraction rather than social or task

attraction and another 50% of male participants aged 18-22 would choose a new/casual partner

based on social attraction rather than physical or task attraction.

Two out of two (100%) of male participants aged 23-27 scored a new/casual partner highest in

physical attraction. This means that 100% of male participants aged 23-27 would choose a

new/casual partner based on physical attraction rather than social or task attraction.

One out of one (100%) of male participants aged 28-32 scored a new/casual partner highest in

physical attraction. This means that 100% of male participants aged 28-32 would choose a

new/casual partner based on physical attraction rather than social or task attraction.

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

13-17 18-22 23-27 28-32 33 and above

No

. o

f p

art

icip

an

ts

Age

Graph of Types of Attraction Desired by Males in a New/Casual

Partner

Physical Attraction

Social Attraction

Task Attraction


Participants aged 13-17 had an equal desire of physical and social attraction in a new/casual

partner. The highest type of attraction desired by male participants aged 23-27 in a new/casual

partner was physical attraction while the highest type of attraction desired by male participants

aged 28-32 in a new/casual was also physical attraction.


Disscussion

Analysis of Female Participants

In the case of new/casual partners, females of all age groups involved in the study seemed more

inclined to feel an attraction to partners that were socially compatible to themselves. Indeed,

83.3% of all females in the study were drawn to social attraction.

Similarly, in ideal partner’s of females, it was recorded that a vast majority of the females in the

study (a startling 72.7%) preferred their ideal partner to posses some degree of social attraction

rather than physical or task attraction.

Finally, in the case of committed relationships, females seemed to weigh physical attraction of

some value as well, as 44.4% were recorded to find it the most important draw to their respective

partner. However, more females still felt that social attraction was the most important type of

attraction.

In closing, females mostly seem to value social attraction above all else and while physical

attraction is seen to be of some importance, it seems that task attraction is an almost negligible

factor.

Analysis of Male Participants

In the case of new/casual partners, the participants of younger age groups seemed to come to a

standstill as they viewed both physical and social attraction equally important in respective

partners.

However, among all the males involved in the study (especially participants from older age

groups), the majority found that physical attraction was the most important of the types of

attractions considered.

In the case of ideal partners, males seemed to value social attraction above all else evident by the

fact that more than half the male participants (51.9%) were attracted to partners socially on parr

with them.


Lastly, the findings revealed that in committed partners, most males valued physical attraction

more (62%) although the older age group seemed torn between physical and social attraction.

In closing, it is found that males are more inclined to be attracted to a partner they find

physically attractive (63.6%) and that social attraction plays second fiddle in the case of male

participants. Again task attraction is an almost negligible factor.

Overall Analysis for Male and Female participants

In conclusion, we can observe that females are shown to place more value in social attraction

(67.4%) while males tended to value physical attraction more (51%).

Final Conclusion

As for participants in general the highest valued attraction was social attraction (55.5%),

followed by physical attraction (51%) and task attraction (5%). The hypotheses that the majority

of people would be greater influenced by physical attraction when choosing a life partner as

proven by McCroskey and McCain (1974) is not supppported. The reason for this is because the

original surveys carried out by McCroskey and McCain (1974) were carried out in Western

countries. This survey was however carried out in Malaysia and thus yielded different results.

Some of the reasons for this are that that Asian people have different views then Westerners. For

example, Asians emphasize the group as a primary whereas Westerners put the individual ahead

of the group (Psychologytoday.com, 2014). Therefore it could be that Asians prefer social

partners that would be more suitable for group interaction and to them this is may be much more

important than physical features. Furthermore, when compared to Asians, Westerners tend to

focus on central objects more than on their surroundings (Goldberg, 2014), this could very well

be the reason why Westerners find physical attraction to be more important than social attraction

as they are more concerned with the imeadiate characteristics (physical appearance) than the

long term characteristics (sociability).


References

1. Goldberg, C. (2014). Differences between east and west discovered in people’s brain activity -

the tech. [online] Retrieved from: http://tech.mit.edu/V128/N9/culture.html [Accessed: 21

Jan 2014].

2. Jamescmccroskey.com. (2014). Feelings about communicating with others. [online] Retrieved

from: http://www.jamescmccroskey.com/measures/attraction_interpersonal.htm [Accessed:

21 Jan 2014].

3. Jamescmccroskey.com. (2014). [online] Retrieved from:

http://www.jamescmccroskey.com/publications/057.pdf [Accessed: 21 Jan 2014].

4. Midss.org. (2014). Measures of interpersonal attraction | measurement instrument database

for the social sciences. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.midss.org/content/measures-

interpersonal-attraction [Accessed: 21 Jan 2014].

5. Psychologytoday.com. (2014). Is there a difference between psyches east and west? [online]

Retrieved from: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/am-i-right/201304/is-there-

difference-between-psyches-east-and-west [Accessed: 21 Jan 2014].


Appendix A


This survey is based on the Interpersonal Attraction Scale by McCroskey and McCain (1974). The purpose

of this survey is to identify the type of attraction (social attraction, physical attraction or task attraction) that

influences a person when choosing a life partner.

Please complete the survey by marking the most suitable answer for each question.

1. What is your gender?

a) Female

b) Male

2. What is your age?

a) 13-17

b) 18-22

c) 23-27

d) 28-32

e) 33 and above


3. What type of individual are you completing this test about?

a) A committed partner

b) A new/casual partner

c) Your ideal partner

Use the following scale and write one number before each statement to indicate your feelings.

Strongly

agree

Moderately

agree

Slightly

agree

Undecided Slightly

disagree

Moderately

disagree

Strongly

disagree

7 6 5 4 3 2 1

______ 1. He (she) is a typical goof-off when assigned a job to do.

______ 2. It would be difficult to meet and talk with him (her).

______ 3. We could never establish a personal friendship with each other.

______ 4. He (she) is somewhat ugly.

______ 5. I think he (she) could be a friend of mine.

______ 6. I would like to have a friendly chat with him (her).

______ 7. I think he (she) is quite handsome (pretty).

______ 8. He (she) would be a poor problem solver.

______ 9. I find him (her) very attractive physically.

______ 10.I don't like the way he (she) looks.

______ 11.He (she) just wouldn't fit into my circle of friends.

______ 12.He (she) is very sexy looking.


______ 13.I have confidence in his (her) ability to get the job done.

______ 14.If I wanted to get things done, I could probably depend on him (her).

______ 15.I couldn't get anything accomplished with him (her).

----END OF SURVEY ----

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!


Appendix B

Scores of Participants Based on Interpersonal Attraction Scale by McCroskey and McCain (1974)

No. Sex Type of

Individual

(Partner)

Age Physical

Attraction

Social

Attraction

Task

Attraction

1 Male Ideal 18-22 30 29 20

2 Male Ideal 18-22 29 27 17

3 Male Ideal 18-22 28 31 26

4 Male Ideal 18-22 29 30 22

5 Male Ideal 18-22 24 32 22

6 Male Ideal 18-22 21 25 20

7 Male Ideal 18-22 30 24 23

8 Male Ideal 18-22 21 24 19

9 Male Ideal 18-22 26 28 25

10 Male Ideal 18-22 26 22 21

11 Male Ideal 18-22 29 35 18

12 Male Ideal 18-22 30 28 11

13 Male Ideal 18-22 20 27 20

14 Male Ideal 18-22 20 30 25

15 Male Ideal 18-22 23 24 22

16 Male Ideal 18-22 25 24 19

17 Male Ideal 18-22 27 23 19

18 Male Ideal 18-22 29 34 19

19 Male Ideal 18-22 36 29 21

20 Male Ideal 18-22 28 35 23

21 Male Ideal 18-22 20 19 19

22 Male Ideal 18-22 27 27 30

23 Male Ideal 18-22 25 23 19

24 Male Ideal 18-22 22 28 23

25 Male Ideal 18-22 23 24 21

26 Male Ideal 13-17 27 29 31

27 Male Ideal 18-22 21 18 22

28 Male New/Casual 23-27 26 14 19

29 Male New/Casual 18-22 18 24 18

30 Male New/Casual 18-22 26 24 19

31 Male New/Casual 18-22 27 31 23

32 Male New/Casual 18-22 25 21 23

33 Male New/Casual 23-27 29 28 21

34 Male New/Casual 28-32 23 14 20

35 Male New/Casual 18-22 26 29 25

36 Male New/Casual 18-22 23 18 22


37 Male Committed 18-22 27 23 16





















58 Female Ideal 18-22 27 33 19

59 Female Ideal 18-22 26 25 28

60 Female Ideal 18-22 19 22 18

61 Female Ideal 18-22 15 22 19

62 Female Ideal 18-22 29 24 22

63 Female Ideal 18-22 21 22 24

64 Female Ideal 18-22 28 29 17

65 Female Ideal 18-22 28 35 22

66 Female Ideal 18-22 29 23 26

67 Female Ideal 18-22 24 30 18

68 Female Ideal 18-22 23 27 22

69 Female Ideal 18-22 21 31 17

70 Female Ideal 18-22 16 21 18

71 Female Ideal 23-27 21 34 18

72 Female Ideal 18-22 26 24 19

73 Female Ideal 33 and

above

24 32 16

74 Female Ideal 18-22 22 34 18

75 Female Ideal 18-22 29 31 20

76 Female Ideal 18-22 29 33 18

77 Female Ideal 23-27 24 31 21

78 Female Ideal 18-22 29 15 18

79 Female Ideal 13-17 31 22 20

80 Female New/Casual 18-22 15 22 20












91 Female New/Casual 33 and

above

20 22 17

92 Female Committed 33 and

above

26 23 25

93 Female Committed 18-22 10 27 17








Education

Social psychology assignment