Post by FragrantMemory on Nov 25, 2006 21:28:58 GMT -5
Attraction Theory is defined as the theory concerned with the process involved in attributing causation or motivation to a person's behavior. Why are we attracted to certain individuals and not others? Many scholars believe attraction is based on people who are more similar to us. "Reinforcement and attraction are positively correlated, the more reinforcement one gets, the more attraction one feels" (Byrne, 1967). Attraction is based on three major factors (see DeVito, 1998):
attractiveness
proximity
similarity
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Attractiveness:
Human are known to have a tendency to appreciate aesthetic beauty. As humans, we are known to be drawn to individuals that are close to us in looks. There are two classes of attractiveness: either you are drawn to the physically attractive or the individuals personality. When one person is physically attracted to another, then there is an increase desire to have interactions. People who are physically attractive are known to have a higher confidence level due to the fact people tend to treat them better. People with higher confidence levels increase their attraction helping to draw other individuals attention. Many studies have stated that men are more overwhelmed by the physical attractiveness of women, while women are know to comment more on the males personality. However, this difference causes men and women to view themselves differently. Women focus on their physical appearance to draw men, while men try to boost their egos about their importance. Not stating that the physical appearance of men is not important, but women usual are drawn to the mans personal qualities.
People start out friendships due to a strong attraction to the person at some point in time. It is human nature to argue the issue that you can have a friend that is just a friend and not a potential "other." However, studies have proven that the reason we are drawn to our friends is because of a physical attraction originally. Steve Suck reports, "All the same, attraction to strangers is the starting point for all relationships that do eventually start" (71).
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Proximity:
Proximity plays a large role in who is attracted whom. It has the ability to effect the strength of a plutonic relationship as well as a romantic relationship. Even though technology is increasing the ability to come into contact with more people, it is still hard to establish a bond to someone you never see. Individuals tend to have a larger feedback on the non-verbal communication with the other person to reaffirm the attraction. Friends or significant others get to know each others behaviors, strong as well as week points, and similarities. "The people who become friends (or more) were those who had the greatest opportunity to interact" (DeVito, 1998).
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Similarity:
The belief that "opposites attract" is not always proven to be so. It has been shown that people are drawn to individuals who have similar views and beliefs. "Perceived similarity is the degree to which we believe another's characteristics are similar to ours- is often sufficient to attract us to others" (Infate, 1997). Similarity attracts us to our friends as well as romantic attractions. Similarities such as or beliefs, interests, attitudes, and personality can help us to be strongly attracted to others who match. People love to have other individuals to participate in activities they like. It helps to have similarities to discuss and participate in to keep the bonds strong between people. "Romantic attractions have what is called matching principles. People tend to become involved with a partner when they usually closely matched in terms of physical attributes of social status" (Bordens, 456).
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Bibliography:
Primary Sources:
Bordens, Kenneth S. (1995) Social Psychology. California: Mountain View.
Byrne, D., Griffitt, W. and Stefaniak, D. (1967) Attraction and Similarity of Personality Characteristic. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5 (1), 82-90.
DeVito, Joseph A. (1998)Interpersonal Communication. New York: New York
Duck, Steve. (1998) Human Relations: Third Edition. California: Thousand Oaks
Infante, Dominic A., Rancer, Andrew S., and Womack, Deama F. (1997) Building Communication Theory. Illinois: Prospect Hieghts.
Secondary Sources:
Cialdini, R.B. (1995). The Psychology of Persuasion. New York: Quill William Morrow.
Cunningham, M. R. (1990). What so women want? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 61-72.
Diener, A., Wolsic, B., & Fujita, F. (1995). Physical attractiveness and subject well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69, 120-129.
Epsychlopedia (2000). www.epsychlopedia.net/concepts/socialPsychology/fAttractionP1.html
Hendricks, C., Olson, D., Hall, S. and Batt, J. (1998) Gender Differences in Physical Attraction. Living in a Social World.
attractiveness
proximity
similarity
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attractiveness:
Human are known to have a tendency to appreciate aesthetic beauty. As humans, we are known to be drawn to individuals that are close to us in looks. There are two classes of attractiveness: either you are drawn to the physically attractive or the individuals personality. When one person is physically attracted to another, then there is an increase desire to have interactions. People who are physically attractive are known to have a higher confidence level due to the fact people tend to treat them better. People with higher confidence levels increase their attraction helping to draw other individuals attention. Many studies have stated that men are more overwhelmed by the physical attractiveness of women, while women are know to comment more on the males personality. However, this difference causes men and women to view themselves differently. Women focus on their physical appearance to draw men, while men try to boost their egos about their importance. Not stating that the physical appearance of men is not important, but women usual are drawn to the mans personal qualities.
People start out friendships due to a strong attraction to the person at some point in time. It is human nature to argue the issue that you can have a friend that is just a friend and not a potential "other." However, studies have proven that the reason we are drawn to our friends is because of a physical attraction originally. Steve Suck reports, "All the same, attraction to strangers is the starting point for all relationships that do eventually start" (71).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proximity:
Proximity plays a large role in who is attracted whom. It has the ability to effect the strength of a plutonic relationship as well as a romantic relationship. Even though technology is increasing the ability to come into contact with more people, it is still hard to establish a bond to someone you never see. Individuals tend to have a larger feedback on the non-verbal communication with the other person to reaffirm the attraction. Friends or significant others get to know each others behaviors, strong as well as week points, and similarities. "The people who become friends (or more) were those who had the greatest opportunity to interact" (DeVito, 1998).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Similarity:
The belief that "opposites attract" is not always proven to be so. It has been shown that people are drawn to individuals who have similar views and beliefs. "Perceived similarity is the degree to which we believe another's characteristics are similar to ours- is often sufficient to attract us to others" (Infate, 1997). Similarity attracts us to our friends as well as romantic attractions. Similarities such as or beliefs, interests, attitudes, and personality can help us to be strongly attracted to others who match. People love to have other individuals to participate in activities they like. It helps to have similarities to discuss and participate in to keep the bonds strong between people. "Romantic attractions have what is called matching principles. People tend to become involved with a partner when they usually closely matched in terms of physical attributes of social status" (Bordens, 456).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bibliography:
Primary Sources:
Bordens, Kenneth S. (1995) Social Psychology. California: Mountain View.
Byrne, D., Griffitt, W. and Stefaniak, D. (1967) Attraction and Similarity of Personality Characteristic. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5 (1), 82-90.
DeVito, Joseph A. (1998)Interpersonal Communication. New York: New York
Duck, Steve. (1998) Human Relations: Third Edition. California: Thousand Oaks
Infante, Dominic A., Rancer, Andrew S., and Womack, Deama F. (1997) Building Communication Theory. Illinois: Prospect Hieghts.
Secondary Sources:
Cialdini, R.B. (1995). The Psychology of Persuasion. New York: Quill William Morrow.
Cunningham, M. R. (1990). What so women want? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 61-72.
Diener, A., Wolsic, B., & Fujita, F. (1995). Physical attractiveness and subject well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69, 120-129.
Epsychlopedia (2000). www.epsychlopedia.net/concepts/socialPsychology/fAttractionP1.html
Hendricks, C., Olson, D., Hall, S. and Batt, J. (1998) Gender Differences in Physical Attraction. Living in a Social World.