Social Bonding in Initial Acquaintance: Effects of Modality and Modality Order

Sprecher, Susan

doi:10.1177/01902725211030252

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Although this premise is empirically supported (e.g., ref. 39 ), first impressions are also bound to change, as reflected by the overall small-to-moderate effect sizes in the current study. For example, research suggests that relationship effects wax and partner effects wane as people get to know each other ( 14 , 40 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 50%

Initial impressions of compatibility and mate value predict later dating and romantic interest

Baxter

Maxwell

Bales

et al. 2022

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Romantic first impressions seem to linger, but why? Few studies have investigated how romantic desire during initial interactions predicts later relational outcomes (e.g., later romantic interest, contact attempts) using a design that can tease apart different possible mechanisms (e.g., mate value, selectivity, compatibility). Across three speed-dating studies ( n = 559) with longitudinal follow-ups (including college and community samples, and a sample of men who date men), we investigated whether different components of initial romantic impressions predicted later romantic outcomes and relationship initiation. Using the social relations model, we partitioned initial desire at speed dating (determined from 6,600+ total dates) into partner effects (a date’s consensual desirability, e.g., mate value), actor effects (a participant’s general desirousness, e.g., selectivity), and relationship effects (a participant’s unique liking for a date over and beyond partner and actor effects, e.g., compatibility) to predict later evaluations (romantic interest, physical attraction, and desire to know better) and behaviors (direct messaging and going on dates). Meta-analyses across the three studies showed that, across 6,100+ follow-up reports, partner and relationship effects were especially strong predictors of relationship initiation variables. Consistent with evolutionary models of human pair bonding, these findings suggest that both consensually desirable traits and unique impressions of compatibility have lingering effects on relationship development, even from the moment that two potential partners meet.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 50%

Initial impressions of compatibility and mate value predict later dating and romantic interest

Baxter

Maxwell

Bales

et al. 2022

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…A common comparison is between dyads becoming acquainted face-to-face (FtF) versus in text-based computer-mediated communication (CMC). Generally, if the period of getting acquainted is brief (such as in a lab session), dyads interacting in CMC-text experience less liking and closeness than dyads interacting FtF (Okdie et al, 2011;Sprecher, 2014Sprecher, , 2021b. A few studies, however, have found greater liking and other positive impressions formed in the get-acquainted process that occurs over CMC than in FtF.…”

Section: Becoming Acquainted Onlinementioning

confidence: 99%

Acquaintanceships (weak ties): Their role in people's web of relationships and their formation

Sprecher

2022

Personal Relationships

Self Cite

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The multidisciplinary field of personal relationships has focused primarily on strong ties (romantic relationships, friendships, family relationships). However, acquaintances (weak ties) are pervasive in people's lives, contribute to well‐being, influence strong ties, and can become strong ties over time. This review article synthesizes several areas of literature about the role of acquaintances (weak ties) in the web of relationships and about the formation of acquaintanceships. The terms acquaintances and weak ties are used interchangeably in this article to refer to the type of relationship that exists in the peripheral layers of social networks. In the first section, I discuss the literature on factors associated with the size of people's acquaintance network, needs met by acquaintances (compared to those of closer ties), health and happiness benefits of interaction with acquaintances, and the dark side of acquaintances including having unwanted acquaintances. In the second section, I discuss how acquaintanceships are formed, and particularly the type that can develop into a closer tie. This section summarizes research from the literatures on friendship formation, relationship initiation, attraction, and first interactions of dyads at zero‐acquaintance. I end the article by identifying several research topics on acquaintances that could be studied by the next generation of scholars.

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Qualitative Comparison of In-Person versus Virtual Versions of the Same Intergenerational Service-Learning Program During Covid-19

Bartlett,

Scholl

2023

Journal of Intergenerational Relationships

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Social Bonding in Initial Acquaintance: Effects of Modality and Modality Order

Cited by 5 publications

References 52 publications

Initial impressions of compatibility and mate value predict later dating and romantic interest

Initial impressions of compatibility and mate value predict later dating and romantic interest

Acquaintanceships (weak ties): Their role in people's web of relationships and their formation

Qualitative Comparison of In-Person versus Virtual Versions of the Same Intergenerational Service-Learning Program During Covid-19

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