The first determinant of attraction, reciprocity, is probably fairly obvious, as
it most directly reflects the reinforcement process; nevertheless, it is a pow
erful force: People tend to like others who like them. There are few things
more rewarding than genuine affection, support, concern, and other indicators
that one is liked by another person.
The second principle, proximity, suggests that simple physical closeness
tends to promote attraction. Research has confirmed what many people
probably already know: People are most likely to become friends (or romantic
partners) with others with whom they have worked, grown up, or gone to
school. Other studies have shown that people living in dormitories or apartments
tend to become friends with the neighbors who live closest to them.
Simply being around people gives an individual a chance to interact with
them, which in turn provides the opportunity to learn who is capable of providing
the rewards sought in a relationship.
It seems, however, that there is yet another force at work, a very basic psychological
process known as the mere exposure phenomenon. Research has
demonstrated consistently that repeated exposure to something new tends
to increase one’s liking for it, and examples of the process are quite common
in everyday life. It is not uncommon, for example, for a person to buy a
new tape or compact disc by a favorite musical artist without actually having
heard the new material, only to be disappointed upon listening to it. The listener
soon discovers, however, that the album “grows” on him or her and
finds himself or herself liking it quite a bit after hearing it a few times. Such
occurrences probably involve the mere exposure phenomenon. In short,
familiarity breeds liking, and physical closeness makes it possible for that
familiarity to develop.
erful force: People tend to like others who like them. There are few things
more rewarding than genuine affection, support, concern, and other indicators
that one is liked by another person.
The second principle, proximity, suggests that simple physical closeness
tends to promote attraction. Research has confirmed what many people
probably already know: People are most likely to become friends (or romantic
partners) with others with whom they have worked, grown up, or gone to
school. Other studies have shown that people living in dormitories or apartments
tend to become friends with the neighbors who live closest to them.
Simply being around people gives an individual a chance to interact with
them, which in turn provides the opportunity to learn who is capable of providing
the rewards sought in a relationship.
It seems, however, that there is yet another force at work, a very basic psychological
process known as the mere exposure phenomenon. Research has
demonstrated consistently that repeated exposure to something new tends
to increase one’s liking for it, and examples of the process are quite common
in everyday life. It is not uncommon, for example, for a person to buy a
new tape or compact disc by a favorite musical artist without actually having
heard the new material, only to be disappointed upon listening to it. The listener
soon discovers, however, that the album “grows” on him or her and
finds himself or herself liking it quite a bit after hearing it a few times. Such
occurrences probably involve the mere exposure phenomenon. In short,
familiarity breeds liking, and physical closeness makes it possible for that
familiarity to develop.
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