Fiske and her colleagues have argued that impression formation begins with the perceiver's attempt to match a new target person's personal attributes to those that characterize a familiar social category in memory. Results of a study testing this model found general support for it, but results for subjects who saw partial matches (the target was…

Female subjects were asked to evaluate either an attractive or unattractive male stimulus person under one of the three experimental conditions; while listening to avant-garde, rock music, or no music at all. Responding on the Interpersonal Judgement Scale (IJS: Byrne, 1971) and a seven-point physical attractiveness scale, subjects indicated more…

While attraction research has repeatedly shown a strong similarity/attraction relationship between perceivers and others, it has not shown that perceivers are repulsed by dissimilar others--only that they seem to withhold judgment and wait for more information about the other before indicating either attraction or dislike. A study investigated the…

A study was conducted to identify the independent and conjoint influence of attitude similarity and initial interactions on interpersonal attraction to relative strangers. The 124 college students who were participants in the study were informed that they would be working on a project with either an attitudinally similar or dissimilar stranger…

Examines whether communicative competence influences perceived task, social, and physical attractiveness. Results indicated that communicative competence accounted for 17 percent, 14 percent and 8 percent of the variance in perceived task, social, and physical attractiveness, respectively. (MM)

Subjects' ratings of counselor charactristics were more positive for attractive than for unattractive counselors, regardless of subject or counselor race. Black counselors were expected to be more helpful than were White counselors. Black subjects saw attractive counselors as being more helpful than unattractive counselors. (Author/BL)

Reveals that previously accepted positive association between attitude similarity and attraction is absent in beginning acquaintance. Suggests that information available during initial conversations may strongly influence perceptions of attitude similarity. Also examines the possibility that a potential initial acquaintance association between…

Examined the relationship between 52 children's attitudes toward older people and 52 older people's perception of children's attitudes toward them using the Attitude Perception Questionnaire. Older adults' perceptions of children's attitudes toward them were more negative than the children's actual attitudes. (JAC)

Investigated how individuals perceive others who systematically vary in both level of disclosure and disclosure flexibility. Subjects were 52 students rated high or low in self-disclosure and disclosure flexibility. Found a similarity effect for disclosure flexibility and highest ratings for medium-high disclosure and high disclosure flexibility…

Black subjects--classified as having "strong Black" or "weak Black" personalities--were asked to evaluate photos of Black and White women. As hypothesized, strong Black personality individuals judged the attractive Black female photo more favorably than the White counterpart; weak Black personality individuals judged the White female more…

Investigated an ongoing therapy group over a six-month period to see if cohesiveness developed differently during various stages. Subjects were psychiatric outpatients (N=5). Questionnaire results showed cohesiveness continued to increase before reaching a plateau and decreasing, but the loss was not significant. (JAC)

Many effects of physical attractiveness can be explained by viewing it as a status characteristic and applying a theory of status characteristics and expectations to it. Tests showed that attractiveness produces predictable differences in expectations and attractiveness characteristics can be modified in combination with additional status…

Supports the hypothesis that initial interaction has a greater positive influence on attraction to dissimilar strangers, than to similar strangers. Does not support the hypotheses that initial interaction has a positive influence regardless of attitude similarity or that attitude similarity is more attractive than dissimilarity regardless of level…

Measures of body- and self-attitudes were assessed among 152 undergraduate students of both sexes. Subjects' self-rated physical attractiveness, physical effectiveness and self-esteem were measured at the initiation and end of their physical education classes. Results indicated no significant differences in stability of body attitudes and…

The therapist with similar attitudes was seen as more qualified, higher in interpersonal attraction, and more likeable. Subjects were more willing to recommend or seek therapy from these therapists. Significant interaction indicated that male subjects were more affected by the degree of attitude similarity. (Author)