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Social Psychology Interpersonal Attraction Better dating through Science!

Social Psychology Interpersonal Attraction Better dating through Science!. PSY 1001 Spring 2010. “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

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Social Psychology Interpersonal Attraction Better dating through Science!

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  1. Social PsychologyInterpersonalAttractionBetter dating through Science! PSY 1001 Spring 2010 “I knew we had a lot in common, I’m crazy too!”

  2. 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.

  3. Men vs Women

  4. Ideal Qualities in a Romantic Partner

  5. Overview • What leads to attraction? • Proximity • Mere exposure • Physical attractiveness • Similarity • Matching • Mimicry

  6. Attraction-Proximity • Proximity: 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

  7. 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

  8. Attraction • Mere exposure • Moreland & Beach (1992): women coming into class; the more they came to class, the more other students liked her

  9. Which version do you prefer? A B

  10. Preferred Qualities in Partners (Buss et al., 1986)

  11. Who do you think is friendlier? Who do you think is more outgoing? To whom would you be friendlier?

  12. Physical Attraction • “What Is Beautiful Is Good” stereotype • People 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 & salary

  13. Walster et al. Computer Dating Study • Freshman “Welcome Week” dance • I.V.s • Attractiveness rated • Personality tests (social skills; introversion-extroversion; masculinity-femininity; MMPI) • IQ • Subjects matched for date (randomly) • D.V.s • Rated date at intermission • Contacted several months later about further dates

  14. Computer Dating Study • Physical attractiveness the most important factor • Intelligence and personality were not related to future dating

  15. Card activity Don’t look at your card. Match with the person with the highest card who will also agree to match with you.

  16. Attractiveness • Physical 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

  17. Scent of Symmetry

  18. Attraction-Similarity • What traits did you want to match your partner on?

  19. Similarity • Couples 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

  20. 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.

  21. Similarily • Together • SAT .31* • PhyAttr .32* • Attitudes .50* • Breakup • SAT .17 • PhyAttr .16 • Attitudes .41*

  22. Similarity • Why do we like people like us? • Why does similarity increase relationship satisfaction?

  23. 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!!!

  24. Mimicry: Similarity in Behavior Behavioral Mimicry

  25. 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?

  26. Similarity to Pets

  27. When all else fails… • Misattribution of arousal

  28. Conclusions-Summary • Many factors contribute to attraction • Proximity • Physical attractiveness (matching) • Similarity • Importance of personality similarities • Mimicry  increased liking • We become more similar to our partners over time

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