Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Factors Influencing Attraction I: Proximity

Factors Influencing Attraction I: Proximity

Proximity plays a fundamental role in shaping interpersonal attraction by increasing opportunities for interaction and fostering familiarity. Research consistently demonstrates that individuals are more likely to form social bonds with those who are physically closer to them, whether in residential settings, workplaces, or educational institutions. This effect is largely driven by the increased frequency of encounters, which facilitates the development of friendships and romantic...

Relationship Formation

Relationship Formation

What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...

Factors Influencing Attraction III: Similarity

Factors Influencing Attraction III: Similarity

The similarity hypothesis suggests that individuals are more likely to form relationships with others who share similar attitudes, beliefs, values, and interests. This concept has been widely studied in social psychology, demonstrating that perceived similarity fosters interpersonal attraction. In an experiment supporting this hypothesis, participants were presented with fabricated information indicating that strangers held attitudes similar to their own. The results showed that participants...

Factors Influencing Attraction IV: Reciprocity

Factors Influencing Attraction IV: Reciprocity

Reciprocity in attraction is fundamental to social and romantic relationships, shaping how individuals form and maintain connections. The psychological principle underlying this phenomenon is that people tend to like those who express liking toward them. Balance theory supports this tendency, suggesting that mutual attraction fosters psychological harmony, whereas one-sided affection leads to discomfort and cognitive dissonance.The Psychological Mechanisms Behind ReciprocityWhen individuals...

Factors Influencing Attraction II: Physical Attraction

Factors Influencing Attraction II: Physical Attraction

Physical attractiveness plays a crucial role in shaping interpersonal attraction, influencing first impressions, social interactions, and long-term relationship dynamics. Psychological research consistently demonstrates that attractiveness affects social evaluations and behavioral outcomes in various contexts.Influence on Social InteractionsResearch has shown that individuals perceived as physically attractive often experience preferential treatment in social and professional settings. One...

Understanding Interpersonal Attraction

Understanding Interpersonal Attraction

Interpersonal attraction is a fundamental psychological phenomenon influencing human relationships across various contexts. It refers to one person's positive feelings or interests toward another, serving as the foundation for friendships, romantic partnerships, familial bonds, and professional relationships. The nature of interpersonal attraction extends beyond romantic connections, shaping interactions in both short-term and long-term social engagements.Psychological Foundations of...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Understanding and challenging epistemically suspect beliefs: A call for expanding interdisciplinary research.

Journal of psychopathology and clinical science·2026

Same author

Is a happy marriage a double-edged sword for biological aging? Preliminary evidence for the moderating role of couples' health behaviors.

Brain, behavior, and immunity·2026

Same author

The support-deficit perspective is now the parsimonious explanation for gender differences in human mating.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026

Same author

Redesigning algorithms to intervene on social norm misperceptions during a national election.

Nature·2026

Same author

Large language models can detect verbal indicators of romantic attraction.

Scientific reports·2026

Same author

Daily closeness discrepancies and marital interaction quality in the context of chronic pain: mediating effect of loneliness.

The Gerontologist·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

How Virtual Celebrity Characteristics Drive Purchase Intention: Testing the Stimulus-Organism-Response Framework with Structural Equation Modeling

How Virtual Celebrity Characteristics Drive Purchase Intention: Testing the Stimulus-Organism-Response Framework with Structural Equation Modeling

Published on: March 3, 2026

Familiarity does indeed promote attraction in live interaction.

Harry T Reis¹, Michael R Maniaci, Peter A Caprariello

¹Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, The University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA. reis@psych.rochester.edu

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

|March 9, 2011

Summary

Familiarity generally increases attraction. This study found that longer live interactions between strangers led to greater liking, mediated by perceived responsiveness, comfort, and knowledge.

More Related Videos

Automated Interactive Video Playback for Studies of Animal Communication

Automated Interactive Video Playback for Studies of Animal Communication

Published on: February 9, 2011

A Naturalistic Setup for Presenting Real People and Live Actions in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Studies

A Naturalistic Setup for Presenting Real People and Live Actions in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Studies

Published on: August 4, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

How Virtual Celebrity Characteristics Drive Purchase Intention: Testing the Stimulus-Organism-Response Framework with Structural Equation Modeling

How Virtual Celebrity Characteristics Drive Purchase Intention: Testing the Stimulus-Organism-Response Framework with Structural Equation Modeling

Published on: March 3, 2026

Automated Interactive Video Playback for Studies of Animal Communication

Automated Interactive Video Playback for Studies of Animal Communication

Published on: February 9, 2011

A Naturalistic Setup for Presenting Real People and Live Actions in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Studies

A Naturalistic Setup for Presenting Real People and Live Actions in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Studies

Published on: August 4, 2023

Area of Science:

Social Psychology
Interpersonal Relationships

Background:

Prior research on familiarity and attraction yielded mixed results.
Some studies suggest increased information can lead to perceptions of dissimilarity and dislike.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of natural social interaction on the familiarity-attraction link.
To test the hypothesis that familiarity promotes attraction in a live interaction setting.

Main Methods:

Two experiments utilized a live interaction paradigm with unacquainted, same-sex participants.
Interaction duration varied, followed by assessments of attraction and mediating factors.

Main Results:

Findings strongly supported the "familiarity leads to attraction" hypothesis.
Increased interaction time correlated positively with increased attraction.
Mediation analyses revealed perceived responsiveness, comfort, satisfaction, and perceived knowledge as key factors.

Conclusions:

Natural social interaction, unlike trait-based information exposure, fosters attraction through familiarity.
Perceived responsiveness, comfort, and knowledge are crucial mediators in the familiarity-attraction relationship.