SOC 2109 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Premarital Sex, Interpersonal Attraction, Social Desirability Bias
Document Summary
A positive attitude held by one person toward another person. Levels of pair relatedness: zero contact (two unrelated persons, awareness (unilateral attitudes or impressions; no interactions, surface contact (bilateral attitudes some interaction, mutually (a continuum; minor interaction, moderate intersection, major intersection. Proximity makes it more rewarding to interact with some people rather than others. Familiarity produces a positive attitude toward those with whom we repeatedly come into contact with. We choose among available candidates, based on several criteria. Social norms tell us what kind of people are appropriate as friends, lovers, and mentors. We prefer a more physically attractive person, for esthetic reasons and become we expect rewards from associating with that person. We choose based on our expectations about the rewards and costs of potential relationships. Physically attractive individuals have more opportunities for sexual relationships. College students in one study were willing to lie about themselves to win dates with physically attractive partners.
