According to psychologist H. T. Reis, a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, available studies and literature help establish four principles of attraction among people, which are those of similarity, proximity, reciprocity and stress.
The definition of these four principles of attraction is based mainly on studies of sentimental relationships, however, the author defends their applicability to any form of interpersonal relationship that does not involve family ties.
- Each of the four principles of attraction speaks of one determining factor in classifying the other as unpleasant or attractive.
- Everyone shows that.
- In this labeling.
- Their own mind influences more than the characteristics of the other person.
“I suppose feeling some interest in a person necessarily generates the conviction that it is beautiful. “Geoffrey Rush?
This principle indicates that people tend to be attracted to those who look like them. In a way, this contradicts the idea that “opponents attract. “In fact, we seem to love those with whom we share interests, concerns, or motivations.
This principle is based on the work of Donn-Byrne, who formulated the so-called Attraction Act in 1971, a law that states that the greater the number of similar elements, the greater the attraction between two people.
Similarity is one of the principles of attraction for three reasons
Does the principle of proximity establish that a friendship or loving relationship with the people we are close to are more likely to be established?Whether physically or not.
Sharing the same environment, real or virtual, not only facilitates opportunities for interaction, but tends to increase mutual sympathy among people.
In one experiment photographs of unknown people were presented to a group of volunteers, the same was repeated twice, the second time the photographs were new unknowns and then included some of the photographs presented in the first batch.
Volunteers described foreigners as twice as attractive as others
However, if the contact is extremely continuous or very prolonged, the attraction can turn into aversion. The same happens when, at first, there is aversion and the proximity is maintained despite it.
Another principle of attraction is reciprocity, which indicates that we tend to be more attracted to people for whom we perceive greater approval, that is, we are friendlier to those who also sympathize with us.
This is because feeling accepted and approved by others creates a feeling of greater security, confidence and gratification; Being accepted by others generates a chain of positive feelings in us, which is why the source of these feelings attracts us.
As H. T. Reis has established, the principle of reciprocity has greater influence than the principle of similarity, we will be attracted to someone who does not look much like us if that person proves that he accepts us and treats us kindly.
This is the most paradoxical of the principles of attraction. He points out that people tend to like us and attract us more when we’re in circumstances that generate anxiety and stress.
So if we sail and a shark appears, the ship’s captain looks attractive, or if someone shares a parachute jump with us, we’ll find it more attractive.
This explains why, under conditions where we feel scared or threatened, we want greater social contact. Each other’s society gives us security and trust, thus creating a bond that we want to be positive.
All these principles speak of attraction, but not of affection or love, that is, they are factors that influence this type of initial harmony with others, but that do not determine the quality or depth of a relationship.