Some Variables Affecting Changes In Interpersonal Attraction

Abstract

An expectancy theory of attraction predicts changes in attraction as a result of disconfirmations of a person's expectancies about another's rewarding behavior. Attitude similarity and normative pressures are interpreted as cues eliciting positive or negative reward expectations. In a test of expectancy theory an experiment employing a 2 x 2 x 2 design was carried out. Subjects requested or did not request help from a similar or dissimilar confederate, who either did or did not provide help. A three-way interaction of these factors on changes in attraction from pre- to postinteraction revealed in general that increments of attraction following help were greater in the Dissimilar conditions and the decrements following no help were greater in the Similar conditions. Furthermore, the greatest decrement in attraction occurred when a similar confederate did not provide help after it had been requested. Secondary findings regarding the predictability of the confederate and the degree of altruism attributed to her supported the assumptions of expectancy theory. © 1982.

Department(s)

Psychological Science

Comments

University of Missouri, Grant None

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1096-0465; 0022-1031

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2023 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 1982

Share

 
COinS