What Is Interpersonal Attraction?

Interpersonal Attraction suggests as attraction between people, and although it may not in terms of a romantic relationship scenario as the phrase suggests, it nethertheless suggests an important attraction to create a relationship with a particular person. It may by that we are attracted to a particular person or a social relationship because we find them pleasant or because we find life alone unpleasant or unrewarding. Schacter (1959) conducted a study in which female participants were told that they were going to receive an electric shock in a following experiment. Half of the subjects were told it would be painful and the other half were told it would not be painful. Each group were given the option to

From this, the socio-biological theory seems to generalize animal behaviour to that of humans, and the need for reproduction and does not focus upon the real reasons as to why we form social relationships. It also presumes that sexual attraction and behaviour is ‘about’ reproduction. Many sexual unions are not directed at bearing children and many people choose to remain childless.

Other theories have focused more into the actual social situation in which these relationships occur. One major factor that seems to play a part in the formation and attraction in relationships is the proximity, exposure and familiarity between two individuals. Proximity suggests that we are attracted to people that we are physically close to, and this would seem to fit in with our common sense and therefore has face validity. Festinger (1954) showed in his Dormitory Study that people became more friendly with close neighbors. He found that 41% had a close friendship with the person next door, had a not quite so friendly relationship with the person two doors away and a least friendly relationship with the