Similarity and Attraction

Key Points

• Predictor of Attraction: Similarity is a massive predictor of attraction.
  • Close friends and couples share common attitudes, beliefs, and interests more often than random pairs.
  • Similarity extends to age, race, religion, economic status, and education level.

Research and Studies

• University Experiment:
  • Participants played a game with another "student" (actually a confederate).
  • Two conditions:
    1. Shown image of the confederate.
    2. Shown an image of the confederate with morphed features of the participant.
  • Results: Participants were more cooperative and trusting when the confederate had morphed features.
• Findings:
  • People find others more attractive if their features are morphed with their own.
  • People are more likely to vote for political candidates who look more like them.

Similarity in Relationships

• Long-Term Relationship Factors:
  • Similarity helps bring people together and can help them stay together.
  • Potential for increased perceived similarity over time.
  • Couples may become more similar as they share and align their interests.
  • Surveys may reflect perceived rather than actual similarity.

Implications and Bias

• Similarity Effect:
  • Could lead to a similarity bias where people exclude those different from themselves.
  • Inclusive similarity pulls people together but may exclude diverse individuals.

Summary

• Similarity is a powerful force in the formation and maintenance of friendships and relationships.
  • Attraction is heavily influenced by shared traits, backgrounds, and even physical features.
  • While it aids in forming bonds, it could also perpetuate exclusion of those who are different.