One of the factors of determining interpersonal attraction is attitude similarity. Newcomb (1961) done a study in which information was obtained about the beliefs and attitudes of the students who participated. They were randomly allocated with a roommate. Some with similar and some with different attitudes. It was seen that friendships were more likely to develop between those who shred similar attitudes and beliefs than those who did not. Others found that similarity of attitude had a greater effect on attraction when it were important to an individual, ( Byrne, London, and Griffitt, 1968) e.g. behaving in such a way to a certain act is unacceptable.
However, Werner and Parmalee (1979) said that similar in attitudes was not as important as similarity in preference for leisure activities and was more important for friendships; ‘’ those who play together, stay together’’ suggesting that those who engage in similar activities are more likely to fulfil each others accompanying needs in a friendship.
Those with demographic variables (e.g. age, sex, social class) and those who possess these characteristics are more likely to be become friends ( Kendel, 1978).
Similarity in physical attractiveness, attitudes and demographics variables is found in friends, engaged and married couples. One possibility is that similar personalities are more likely to become involved in one another. However, in some situations it is seen that dissimilar personalities (‘opposites attract’) are likely to marry or to become friends (Winch, 1958). He claimed that married couples will be happy if the had complimentary needs. Also Kerckoff and Davis’s filter theory of mate selection takes a longitudinal view of relationships and suggests that in the early stages of a relationship, similarity in values maybe important.
Reciprocity, complimentary and competence are inter linked in influencing liking. Reciprocity is when we like people who like us e.g. returning a compliment, ‘ you look beautiful today’. This can be connected with complimentary in which we are attracted to people who satisfy our needs e.g. someone dominant will be attracted to someone submissive.
Byrne and Murnen, (1988) claimed that those of compliments and liking tended to respond in the same way and this may then influence those who like us to furthermore like us ( Curtis and Miller, 1988). In other words people respond back to the positive comments passed by another individual by giving positive comments back e.g. ‘ I like you hat’, ‘ thanks, your aftershave smells very nice’ The reward-cost principle (Aronson, 1980) showed that we are attracted to these people who pass the positive compliments on a number of occasions and least attracted to those who give negative comments.
On the other hand, according to the gain-loss theory, ( Aronson and Linder, 1965) we like someone most when they start off by disliking us, then come to like us opposed to those who we least like when we started off liking them and then came to dislike them.
It is seen that we like those who have competency than those who are incompetent. These are those may show confidence, bravery, ability and efficiency in what they do e.g. a more confident person maybe preferred than a shy quiet peron who hardly speaks or expresses their views.
In conclusion, there is considerable evidence to support that the view that ’alikes’ rather than ‘opposites’ attract ( Byrne, 1971). Similarity is an important factor if whether attitude based, demographic or personality and to a large extent depends on several types of similarity (Rubin, 1973). Establishing a law of attraction important in forming linear relationship exits between attraction and commonality between attitudes. Winch’s concept that ’opposites ‘ attract has no evidence that they attract in personality (Burgess and Wallin,1953). This together with other factors such as reciprocity,complimentary and competence influence liking by positive comments and efficiency and ability to satisfy ones needs which will attract one to another with the similarities of demographic variables, attitudes etc to a liking and will onset a relationship whether just friendship, or a romantic one.
