Psychology I / Interpersonal Attraction: The Science of Social Bonding
Practice question · Sort into groups

Sort each claim by whether the research on attraction supports it or contradicts it.

Groups: Supported by the research · A popular belief the research contradicts

Hints
  1. Two of the six are folk sayings, and both happen to be the exact opposite of what the evidence shows.
  2. Check each saying against the named factors: proximity, similarity, reciprocity, mere exposure and the halo effect.
Show the answer

Supported by the research: We are drawn to people whose attitudes and values resemble our own, We befriend the people we simply encounter most often

A popular belief the research contradicts: Opposites attract: difference is the stronger pull, Familiarity breeds contempt: the more we see someone the less we like them

Why

Similarity, proximity, reciprocated liking and the beauty halo are all supported. The two contradicted items are the memorable sayings - 'opposites attract' loses to similarity, and 'familiarity breeds contempt' loses to mere exposure. The pattern is worth noticing: the folk wisdom in this area is not merely imprecise, it points the wrong way.

Read the lesson: Interpersonal Attraction: The Science of Social Bonding →

Practise Interpersonal Attraction: The Science of Social Bonding

The app has 5 more questions on this lesson, and keeps your place in the course. Psychology I is free to start.

Start Psychology I free Get it onGoogle Play

More questions on Interpersonal Attraction: The Science of Social Bonding