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Graduation Term

2015

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Department of Psychology

Committee Chair

Susan Sprecher

Abstract

Countless studies have supported the hypothesis that similarity and attraction have a strong and positive relationship. Few studies, however, have examined through what processes this relationship can be explained. This study attempted to examine the role of five of these potential mechanisms: consensual validation, cognitive evaluation, certainty of being liked, fun and enjoyment, and perceived self-expansion opportunity. These variables were examined using the bogus stranger and social interaction paradigms and were tested in three models: actual similarity to a bogus partner and reported attraction (before an interaction), perceived similarity to the partner and reported attraction (both before an interaction), and perceived similarity to the partner and reported attraction (both after an interaction). Though there were many other significant relationships, only fun and enjoyment was identified as a significant mediator of the similarity-attraction relationship across all of the models. The smaller sample size could have contributed to the other potential mediators' lack of success, as statistical power was low. The results of this study add another building block to our understanding of the tried and true relationship between similarity and attraction.

Access Type

Thesis-ISU Access Only

DOI

http://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2015.Fisher.A

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