Social Relations: Attraction Chapter 16, Lecture 5 “Personal beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of introduction.” - Aristotle

The Psychology of Attraction 1.Proximity: Geographic nearness is a powerful predictor of friendship. Repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases their attraction (mere exposure effect). A rare white penguin born in a zoo was accepted after 3 weeks by other penguins just due to proximity. Rex USA

Several years ago the Associated Press carried the following story from Corvallis, Oregon: A mysterious student has been attending a class at Oregon State University for the past two months enveloped in a big, black bag. Only his bare feet show. Each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11 o’clock in the morning, the black bag sits on a small table near the back of the classroom. The class is Speech 113 – Basic Persuasion…Charles Goetzinger, professor of the class, knows the identity of the person inside. None of the twenty students in the class do. Goetzinger said the students’ attitudes changed from hostility toward the black bag to curiosity and finally to friendship.

In 1972, a small coastal town in Ecuador was confronted with the question of how to deal with their new mayor, Pulvapies. Pulvapies was fairly elected, beating his nearest opponent by a comfortable margin. There was one problem, however. Pulvapies was a foot deodorant! During the municipal election, the manufacturer thought it would be clever to post billboards and distribute fliers simply saying: “For mayor: Honorable Pulvapies.” Little did he realize that his honorable deodorant would actually be elected.

Psychology of Attraction 2.Physical Attractiveness: Once proximity affords contact, the next most important thing in attraction is physical appearance. Brooks Kraft/ Corbis

Psychology of Attraction 3.Similarity: Similar views among individuals causes the bond of attraction to strengthen. Similarity breeds content!

Romantic Love Passionate Love: An aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, usually present at the beginning of a love relationship. 1.Physical arousal plus cognitive appraisal 2.Arousal from any source can enhance one emotion depending upon what we interpret or label the arousal Two-factor theory of emotion

Romantic Love Companionate Love: A deep, affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined.

Romantic Love Important components of romantic love: Equity – a condition in which people receive from a relationship in proportion to what they give it. Self-disclosure – revealing intimate aspects of oneself to others.

“Indeed, a simple reward theory of attraction – that we will like those whose behavior is rewarding to us and that we will continue relationships that offer more rewards than costs – can explain all the findings we have considered so far.” - David Myers Homework Read p