Emotional Aspects of Attraction
While how a person looks does matter to many of us, seldom is it the only factor considered in choosing a partner. Many different concepts have been studied and analyzed on the topic of emotional connection. Below will be just a few examples of the different emotional aspects discussed in class.
Proximity Effect
The picture to the left is of two coworkers, Perhaps at the moment the two are just friends. However, the proximity effect suggest that the closer you are to a person physically, the more likely it is that you will be able to form a relationship with that person. While these two might have passed each other on the streets and never even had said a word to one another, repeated exposure in an environment that fosters collaboration could actually develop a budding romance.
Halo Effect
In this picture a woman passionately kisses a fireman on the lips. There are many reasons why this might be happening, however for the sake of the project, let's say it has to do with the halo effect. This woman finds our hero to be brave, strong, and manly; the best at his job. Her assessment of the man as a firefighter mirrors what she is looking for in a husband and father of her children. While her theory may prove true, essentially she is projecting her knowledge of the man as a fireman to comply with her ideal partner. This is what the halo effect is all about.
Exchange Theory
The cartoon to the left is of an old married women looking to trade her husband in for a better one. This is, at it's simplest, an example of exchange theory. Exchange theory indicates that people usually don't get involved in relationships with others if they don't find them of equal or better worth.
Contextual Effect
Maybe it's just me, but I don't find Gene Simmons to be a very attractive man. However, somehow this ugly guy seems to have had women drooling like babies over him for the past 40 plus years. Do they know something I don't about Mr. Simmons? I'd rather them not say. However, the phenomenon may have something more to do with contextual effect. I'm willing to bet that if Gene Simmons grew up to be an accountant, no offense to any accountants, instead of a musician for the iconic group Kiss, he wouldn't get as much attention from the ladies. Contextual effect states that while we may see someone or something in one context, our perception of that person or thing may be changed when viewed in another context. In other words.....
SUPERMAN SYNDROME
SUPERMAN SYNDROME!!! My new name for the contextual effect. Much like accountant Simmons with the ladies, mild mannered Clark Kent can never get the attention of one Ms. Lois Lane, even with proximity effect on his side!!! Lois' heart belongs to Superman, who in reality also is Clark Kent. However, when Superman presents himself as Clark, he is nerdy, weak, and sometimes annoying. When he is his true self, he is of course, super-human. How can Lois love Superman and not Clark Kent if they are one in the same? CONTEXT!
Roxanne: as told by a social psychologist
Roxanne is an 80's movie that I loved as a child, and to this day. Little did I know of the overlapping social psychological concepts the movie held within it until now. The movie is a modern telling of the story of Cyrano de Bergerac. In the story, Roxanne (Daryl Hannah) who is new to town meets C.D. (Steve Martin) the town fire chief and doesn't think too much of him other then the fact that he is a nice guy. C.D. on the other hand is attracted to Roxanne, and her beautiful facial symmetry. Unfortunately for C.D., he is a 4 or 5 on the "hotness" scale due to an extremely large nose, while Roxanne has definite 10 potential. At the same time as her arrival, a new fire cadet moves into town named Chris. Chris has 10 potential himself, and seeing as how Roxanne and him are so close in looks, Chris develops a crush on Roxanne. Roxanne is highly intelligent, and exchange theory would suggest that she is looking for someone of equal or greater value. Unfortunately, Chris isn't much in the brains department, so he seeks C.D.'s advice on wooing Roxanne. Knowing that Roxanne thought Chris was handsome, C.D. decides that if he helps Chris get Roxanne, it would almost be as if he were with her. C.D. helps Chris, but before long, contextual effect would show Roxanne that Chris isn't the man she thought he was. Que the happy ending where C.D.'s charm, and proximity effect from always being around one another, lead to an unlikely relationship between a 5 and a 10.
