College Interpersonal Attraction and Maintenance Being attractive or liked is an important characteristic to many college students. The lives of many students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison involve a lot of socializing and partying. Many students go out to the bars or party every weekend and some students are looking to meet someone. The intentions vary among students in regards to relationships due to the busy schedules students have. Some people are looking for someone to hang out with and date, some are looking for more friends and others are looking for a long term, serious relationship. This research will specifically study what attracts people to one another. The initial attraction between two people will be analyzed as well as what traits are most important to each sex in relation to attraction.
The importance of this research pertains to all college students who are looking to meet a special someone. Each person would surely like to know what the other sex is attracted to when initially meeting someone and what will keep them in a relationship, if so desired. Learning the difference between what a female and male looks for is very interesting. Males may claim to know what a female wants, but research such as this may actually surprise them. The interest I have in this research is probably the same as all males, what are girls looking for in a guy. What is the first thing a girl notices? Being the type of guy that is not afraid of committing to a girl, my interests are also in what characteristics girls want in a serious relationship. Susan Sprecher (1998), a professor of sociology at Illinois State University, found interesting results when studying the initial attraction of two people. Using survey analysis, she found that physical attractiveness is a more important characteristic in initial attraction versus maintenance of attraction.
Physical attractiveness is a visible quality that may bring people together, but seems to be less important in maintaining an attraction. Sprecher (1998) also found that proximity plays a key role in initial attraction. Proximity is important for initiating and developing a relationship, but is may not be needed in order to maintain it. In Vogels (1999) study of dating relationships, he found that a male will withdraw from discussing important topics while a female will typically demand more. This may be explained by the stereotype that men dont disclose themselves as easily as females. This results in a male withdrawal/female demand type of relationship which can lead to the relationship having problems. Overall, Vogel (1999) also found that an equal demand by both participants in a dating relationship results in the relationship lasting longer. These results pertain to attraction maintenance.
Obviously, if two people contribute equally to a relationship, it is most likely the relationship will continue for a longer period than a relationship where one participant controls/demands much more than the other. The previous statement can be proved incorrect depending on what type of a relationship each person is looking for. If one individual is withdrawn and does not need to speak their opinion, that person may be completely content. Another relationship between Vogels research and this research is that equal demand by each member in a relationship is probably also related to personality similarity. The focus of this research will be specifically on what factors are most important to each sex in an initial attraction and what factors are most important in maintaining a relationship. Gender similarities and differences will be examined. Each research participant will be surveyed to rank a series of characteristics from important to least important when pertaining to an initial attraction.
The hypothesis is that both college males and females will rank physical attractiveness as the most important characteristic in an initial attraction. Regarding the maintenance of attraction, the opposite will be the same. Males and females will value personality similarities most when desiring to maintain a relationship. The survey will measure the characteristics of maintaining a relationship in a similar manner as to an initial attraction. Also examined for another variable will be whether the person being surveyed is currently in a relationship or not. There may be a difference in how a person responds because the person will be asked to look upon their current relationship when responding to the survey. The hypothesis of this research contradicts what Sprecher (1998) found in her research.
Her research showed that males will value physical attractiveness more then females in an initial attraction. This research is predicts that females will also value physical attractiveness the most, showing a gender similarity. The methodology of the study could be improved in regards to the survey. When a person is responding the survey, each person is thinking about what they perceive rather than what they actually do. The survey did attempt to partially overcome this by asking people to answer the questions in regard to their current relationships if possible. Perhaps a better method would be to survey people immediately after an initial contact with someone.
Then the person will know on hand what they liked and valued most in that particular interaction. McClanahan, K. K., & Gold, J. A. (1990).
Infatuation and attraction to a dissimilar other: Why is love blind? J. Social Psychology, 130, 433 437.
Sprecher, S. (1998).
Insiders perspectives on reasons for attraction to close other. Social Psychology Quarterly, 61, 287 300. Vogel, D. L., Webster, S. R., & Heesacker, M. (1999).
Dating relationships and the demand/withdraw pattern of communication. Sex Roles, 41, 297 306.