Interpersonal Attraction as a Function of Attitude Similarity and Aggression

The attitude similarity effect is one of the most replicated paradigms of interpersonal attraction. Strangers with similar attitudes are found to be attractive compared to those with dissimilar attitudes. Previous research has found that this phenomenon does not occur with personality traits. Aggression may influence interpersonal attraction in a negative manner. The current study aims to understand if we find similar strangers attractive if they also have aggressive tendencies. 258 undergraduate students took a 14 item attitude survey and Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Attitude similarity was manipulated as similar or dissimilar and aggression was manipulated to be aggressive or non-aggressive. Results suggest that participants prefer a similar and aggressive stranger over a dissimilar and non-aggressive stranger. Future studies may look into mediators of similarity to understand potential reasoning for this occurrence.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychological Research

Grantor

Texas State University

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Pacailler, Matthew

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Davis, John M.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Hu, Jean
• Osborne, Randall E.

• attitude similarity
• aggression
• interpersonal attraction
• social psychology

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10877/6616

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/6616