Ms. Forlow AP Psych October 10, 2013 Do Opposites Attract?: Setting the Record Straight on Factors that Influence Attraction Ms. Forlow AP Psych October 10, 2013

FreeWrite Pretend you are able to go on your dream date with that dream guy or girl. Lucky you! What would he or she be like? Why would you be attracted to him or her? Make sure to include specific details that would persuade others that this really is the most attractive guy or girl you could take on this date.

LeArning Objectives be able to define prosocial behavior and give examples of how attraction is a prosocial behavior define and give examples of the concept of attraction  - list and give examples of the four factors (proximity, physical attractiveness, similarity, and mutual liking) which help to determine attraction. define and give examples of the mere exposure effect,

Learning Objective Con’t define and give examples of the rewards theory of attraction  analyze, identify, and apply the four factors that influence attraction if given a hypothetical situation drawn from real-life in writing or in a song.  identify which adages presented about attraction are true and which are false and briefly defend why deem the adage to be true or false based on social psychologists findings on attraction that are presented to them in the lecture. generate hypothetical situations in the form of a song in which several of the four factors that increase likelihood of attraction are at work, and the mere exposure effect or the reward theory of attraction is evident in causing person to attracted to another person.

Attraction Adages Based on your experiences/opinions answer true or false in your notes to the following statements: Familiarity breeds contempt. Birds of a feather flock together. Beauty is only skin deep.

Prosocial Behavior (Myers P.719) Def: behavior intends help or benefit someone [Myers 719] Includes attraction, altruism, and peacemaking Examples from everyday life of how attraction = prosocial behavior?

Attraction and Factors (Myers P. 719) Def: psychological attachment and liking of another person that helps us cope with all other relationships, most notably found in friendships or romantic relationships (Myers 719). Four factors found to influence attraction 1) proximity 2.) physical attractiveness 3.) similarity 4.) other’s liking of us

Proximity (Myers p. 719-20) Def: “geographic nearness” Most powerful predictor of friendship Leads to increase opportunities contact fosters liking, rather than aggression

Proximity Con’t One explanation for effects proximity on attraction give by mere exposure effect (def:the phenomenon that repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking) Ex: Moreland and Beach’s 1992 Study Result: woman saw more, liked most Ex: DeBruine’s face study  morphed picture of others with features of our own added better Social psychs believe mere exposure effect occurs because evolutionarily adaptive Familiarity= safety, unfamiliarity=danger/threat

Physical Attractiveness (Myers p. 721-23) -factor most likely shape first impressions and attraction to others EX: Hatfield’s 1996 study in blind dates physical attractiveness alone determined liking for both genders

Physical attractiveness Con’t EX: Research show positive correlation between physical attractiveness and perceptions of the following: how frequently a person dates how popular a person feels other’s first-impressions of that person’s personality; others’ perceptions of a person’s health, success, sensitivity, happiness, and social skills positive impressions with employers, job success, earning higher wages as compared to average- looking or obese persons

Important Findings on PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS (MYERS p. 722) Despite physical attractiveness’s contribution to attraction, must remember: 1.) physical attractiveness appears unrelated to self- esteem and happiness 2.) judgments about attractiveness are relative standards person’s culture, the time and place a person lives in, and standards shift over time

Physical Attractiveness Con’t Universally Attractive Elements 1.) Men  youthful looking women 2.) Women  healthy, mature, dominant, affluent looking men 3.) Men and Women  symmetrical bodies, features, and faces EX: Langlois and Roggmann’s Face study

Similarity (Myers P. 723) Determining factor in what kind of attraction established (friendship, romantic) Research shows couples and friends more likely share following in common compared to people randomly paired: attitudes beliefs Interests Religion Race more similar two people are, more liking persists

Others Liking us (Myers p. 724) another person liking us can lead us to be attracted to them Influence can be explained by reward theory of attraction (def: will like those whose behavior is rewarding to us and will continue relationships offer more rewards than costs) the reward theory of attraction can be used explain influence any of the four influences

ADAGE QUIZ REVISITED

Love Songs Activity