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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Mimicry: Similarity in Behavior

Behavioral Mimicry

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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