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Similarity and Interpersonal Attraction

BillyBlueJay (talk) Generally, the style to use here is to focus on the concepts and theories and summarize the research findings in an area, without focusing too much on a particular study. However, this Byrne study is a classic in the area. But before focusing in depth on a given study, set it up by talking about what research has found on an issue in general, and then briefly discuss one study as an example or illustration of the phenomenon or effect being discussed. The content you have here is good, just wanting you to tweak the style with which you present it a little bit. ~~

Much research has been done examining the effects of attitudinal similarity on attraction. There has been inconsistencies in regard to the topic of the similarity and attraction. Some research has looked at how complimentary attitudes affect attraction rather than similar attitutdes, which would contradict the findings between similarity and interpersonal attraction. Also, some research has been done on attitudinal similarity and nothing has been found, but research completed on the actual similarity-attraction effect has often suggested a correlation, finding that participants are more likely to become attracted to a stranger with whom they share many common attitudes than to one with whom they share few. This research has been dubbed the "Law of Attraction", which was originally stated as "attraction toward X is a positive linear function of the proportion of positive reinforcements received from X". This linear function carried over and was used to look at attitudinal similarities and attraction, which successfully found an existing correlation in many completed studies. In an experiment conducted by Donn Byrne and collaborators, they measured how attracted participants were to other participants based on a survey recording their knowledge, beliefs, and values. They manipulated the level of similarity experienced between an actual participant and a stranger by first having the participant take the assessment themselves, then some time later having each participant come back and rate the responses of a stranger on the Interpersonal Judgment Scale (six 7-point rating scales). This scale is set to measure “the stranger's intelligence, knowledge of current events, morality, and adjustment and…how much they would like the person and… [if] they would enjoy working with him". The responses seen by the participant were actually responses filled out by a researcher, which they manipulated to have either a .20, .60, or .80 similarity correlation with the participant. The findings from the study provided evidence that as the correlation of similarity increased so did the ratings from Interpersonal Judgement Scale, indicating a higher attraction level. Consistent with previous research, this study exemplifies that when attitudinal similarity has been manipulated between each subject and a stranger, a linear relationship has continuously been found between proportion of similar attitudes and attraction.

Although there has been much previous research covering similarity and interpersonal attraction, researchers have taken it even further to differentiate levels of attraction found from perceived versus actual similarity. The difference between the two types of similarity has to due with how similar someone actually is to another person (actual similarity) or how similar someone perceives that someone else is to them (perceived similarity). Much research has been done examining the different factors of actual and perceived similarity that influenced interpersonal attraction. In order to have a better understanding of what influences each, it is important to understand how each term is defined.

Actual vs. Perceived Similarity

Actual similarity in regards to interpersonal attraction is when shared attributes exist between two individuals. A procedure called the phantom-other technique has been developed to further and better understand the link between similarity and interpersonal attraction. Research has been done using the phantom-other technique and has steadily show that people show higher levels of interpersonal attraction towards others who have actual similar views, rather than others with dissimilar views. Going further into the link between similarity and attraction, research has explained the relationship through people’s need for a consistent view of the world (known as effectance motive) and how when other’s agree with how we already view the world that reinforces and supports the thoughts they already have and produces positive feelings which translate into attraction for the other. The exact opposite is produced if people disagree or contradict one’s view of the world, this will produce negative feelings which will translate into a reduction of attraction.

Perceived similarity in regards to interpersonal attraction is when it is perceived by the observer that shared attributes exist between two individuals. Going back to Byrne’s idea of effectance motive, people’s need for consistency can just as easily be confirmed if they just believe that another believes the same thing that they do. The impact that perceived similarity has on interpersonal attraction can be thought to be attributed to cognitive biases and techniques that enhance and maintain self-esteem. One specific cognitive bias that has been believed to effect the relationship between perceived similarities rand interpersonal attraction is the false consensus bias. In regard to attraction and similarity, it would employ the idea that people who are attracted to each other are supposed to be similar, which causes people to perceive the people they are attracted to as more similar to themselves. 

Findings from a meta-analysis from Horton, Kirchner, and Montoya were steady with accepted knowledge of similarities influence on interpersonal attraction. Similarity had a large effect in the studies conducted. Although, the relationship that was found between actual similarity and attraction was much lower after a short interaction. If comparing to perceived similarity, perceived similarity showed a strong correlation in the same studies as actual similarity, but also in short-interaction scenarios. These findings can conclude that both actual and perceived similarity produces attraction.  

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