Question 1

According to research, what is the 'mere exposure effect' in attraction?

Accepted Answer

Repeated exposure to someone increases liking and attraction. The mere exposure effect, studied extensively by psychologist Robert Zajonc, shows that people tend to develop a preference for things (and people) simply because they encounter them repeatedly. This is why we often develop feelings for coworkers, classmates, or neighbors — familiarity breeds fondness.

Question 2

The 'triangular theory of love' by psychologist Robert Sternberg identifies which three components?

Accepted Answer

Intimacy, passion, and commitment. Sternberg's 1986 triangular theory proposes that love consists of three components: intimacy (closeness and connection), passion (physical and emotional arousal), and commitment (the decision to maintain the relationship). Different combinations create different types of love.

Question 3

Research on the 'misattribution of arousal' (the bridge study) found that:

Accepted Answer

People on a scary suspension bridge rated an interviewer as more attractive. In Dutton and Aron's famous 1974 study, men who crossed a fear-inducing suspension bridge were more likely to call a female interviewer afterward than men on a stable bridge. They misattributed their physiological arousal (racing heart from fear) as attraction to the interviewer.

Question 4

What does research say about the role of scent in human attraction?

Accepted Answer

People are attracted to those with different immune system genes (MHC). Research, including the famous 'sweaty T-shirt study' by Claus Wedekind, suggests people are attracted to the natural scent of those with different MHC (major histocompatibility complex) genes. This diversity would theoretically give offspring stronger immune systems.

Question 5

According to John Gottman's research, what ratio of positive to negative interactions predicts relationship stability?

Accepted Answer

5:1 — five positives for every negative. Gottman's extensive research on married couples found that stable, happy relationships maintain roughly a 5:1 ratio of positive to negative interactions. Couples who fell below this ratio were significantly more likely to separate. This became known as the 'magic ratio.'

Question 6

The psychological concept of 'assortative mating' refers to the tendency for people to:

Accepted Answer

Choose partners who are similar to themselves. Assortative mating is the well-documented tendency for people to choose partners who are similar to themselves in various traits — including education level, physical attractiveness, values, and even personality characteristics. The saying 'birds of a feather flock together' has strong research support.

Question 7

What did Arthur Aron's '36 Questions' study demonstrate about intimacy?

Accepted Answer

That structured mutual self-disclosure can rapidly create closeness. Aron's research showed that pairs of strangers who took turns asking and answering 36 increasingly personal questions (followed by four minutes of eye contact) reported feeling significantly closer afterward. The study demonstrated that vulnerability and reciprocal self-disclosure are powerful accelerators of intimacy.

Question 8

Research on 'attachment theory' in adult relationships was pioneered by which researchers?

Accepted Answer

Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver. While John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth developed attachment theory for parent-child relationships, Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver were the first to apply it to adult romantic relationships in their groundbreaking 1987 paper, identifying secure, anxious, and avoidant attachment styles in adults.

Question 9

The 'halo effect' in attraction research refers to:

Accepted Answer

The tendency to assume attractive people have other positive qualities. The halo effect is a cognitive bias where perceiving one positive trait (like physical attractiveness) leads people to assume other positive traits (intelligence, kindness, competence). Research consistently shows that attractive individuals are often assumed to be more successful, happier, and more socially skilled.

Question 10

According to Helen Fisher's research, which brain chemicals are most associated with the early 'falling in love' phase?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine and norepinephrine. Helen Fisher's brain imaging studies showed that early romantic love activates dopamine-rich reward pathways (creating euphoria and motivation) and involves norepinephrine (causing racing hearts and focused attention). Interestingly, serotonin levels drop — similar to patterns seen in obsessive-compulsive states — which may explain love's obsessive quality.

Psychology of Attraction Research

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