Effects of degree of interpersonal similarity on physical distance and self‐reported attraction: A comparison of uniqueness and reinforcement theory predictions

Abstract

The apparently divergent similarity-attraction findings of the reinforcement theory and uniqueness theory researchers were investigated by exposing male (N = 45) and female {N = 45) subjects to conditions of slight, moderate, or high similarity relative to one comparison other. Similarity was manipulated by means of a bogus personality and attitude inventory. For the self-report measures, results consistent with reinforcement theory were obtained in that greater self-reported attraction to the partner was linearly related to increased similarity. Additionally, interpersonal distance was curvilinearly related to similarity. This distancing pattem reflected the fact that moderate similarity subjects positioned themselves relatively closer to the other person's chair than the slight or high similarity subjects. The physical distance results support the uniqueness theory notion that high similarity may have some aversive properties. The discrepancy between the physical distance and self-report results is discussed in terms of an implicit causal theory that subjects may have about interpersonal similarity (i.e., greater similarity is good).In the 1950s and 1960s, researchers took an increasing interest in the relation between interpersonal similarity and attraction. In the experimental setting, similarity has most commonly been manipulated by means of bogus attitude information about another subject, an experimental confederate, or an imseen stranger.

Red and romantic behavior in men viewing women

“…Behavioral indicators of attraction have been relatively scarce in the literature (see Byrne & Griffitt, 1973;Snyder & Endleman, 1979), although there has been a recent influx of research utilizing naturalistic paradigms (online dating, speed dating) highly amenable to investigating romantic behavior (Finkel & Eastwick, 2008;McKenna, Gree, & Gleason, 2002). Herein we conducted two experiments using two different behavioral indicators of attraction, question intimacy and physical distance, both of which produced the same finding: Men showed, in their actions, that they were particularly attracted to the ''lady in red'' (versus the lady in green or blue).…”

Just Another Face in the Crowd? Distinctiveness Seeking in Sweden and Britain

“…, show a greater preference for uncommon experiences (Fromkin 1970), reduce their physical proximity to others (Snyder and Endelman 1979), and increase their identification with distinctive groups (Pickett et al 2002). Breakwell (1987) incorporated distinctiveness seeking into her integrated theory of personal and social identity processes, arguing that these processes are guided (i.e.…”

Sources of distinctiveness: position, difference and separateness in the identities of Anglican parish priests

“…Distinctiveness needs appear to be implicated in a wide range of cognitive, affective and behavioural outcomes, including memory biases (Leyens, Yzerbyt, & Rogier, 1997), person and group perceptions (Codol, 1987;Pickett & Brewer, 2001), self-stereotyping (Pickett, Bonner, & Coleman, 2002;, group identification (Pickett, Silver, & Brewer, 2002), subjective well-being (Fromkin, 1972), interpersonal attraction (Snyder & Endelman, 1979) and various forms of intergroup differentiation (Brown, 1984;Roccas & Schwartz, 1993;Spears, Jetten, & Scheepers, 2002).…”