Seeing I to I: a pathway to interpersonal connectedness.

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Human Connection

Background:

• Understanding the factors that drive interpersonal attraction is crucial in social psychology.
• While objective similarity is a known predictor of liking, the role of subjective experience remains less explored.
• Existential isolation and the need for closeness are fundamental human experiences influencing social behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and investigate the concept of I-sharing, defined as the belief in shared subjective experience.
• To examine the influence of I-sharing on interpersonal liking, independent of objective similarity.
• To explore the moderating roles of existential isolation and the need for closeness in attraction to I-sharers.

Main Methods:

• Five studies were conducted, involving participants rating their liking for individuals varying in objective similarity and I-sharing.
• Experimental manipulations included priming existential isolation and assessing individual needs for interpersonal closeness.
• Behavioral and self-report measures were used to quantify liking and attraction.

Main Results:

• Participants showed a preference for objectively similar others, but only when I-sharing was present.
• Individuals with a high need for interpersonal closeness exhibited intense responses to both I-sharers and non-I-sharers.
• Priming existential isolation significantly increased liking for I-sharers compared to objectively similar others.

Conclusions:

• Shared subjective experience (I-sharing) is a significant factor in interpersonal attraction, often outweighing objective similarity.
• Feelings of existential isolation and the need for closeness amplify the impact of I-sharing on attraction.
• The findings have implications for understanding interpersonal dynamics and intergroup relations.