Interpersonal Attraction Term Paper

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 621 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 0

Page 1 of 2

Interpersonal Attraction

Klohen, Eva C. & Shanghong Lao. (2003) "Interpersonal Attraction and Personality." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Vol. 85. No 4, 709-722.

Although the 'rules' of interpersonal attraction, or the mysterious process and reasons that we are attracted to certain individuals and not to others, are often obfuscated by romantic language, the authors of this article attempt to clarify the data that does exist as to whether opposites do indeed attract, or if we seek someone like ourselves, someone like our ideal self, and if security of reciprocal attachment is more important than other factors in attachment.

One of the most interesting studies cited early on by the authors, and critical in shaping the dynamics of their own study, is a personality evaluation of different attraction patterns, as performed by Bartholomew and Horowitz. This study attempted to break down different attachment styles and patterns into four different categories, based on the degrees of manifested anxiety or avoidance.

Stuck Writing Your "Interpersonal Attraction" Term Paper?

View All Our Example Interpersonal Attraction Term Paper

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

Bartholomew and Horowitz characterized attachment behavior patterns as secure, preoccupied, fearful, or dismissive Individuals with secure sense of self were both less anxious and avoidant, fearful individuals are both anxious yet avoidant because of fears of rejection, in contrast to anxiously preoccupied individuals that obsess over rejection and clung to relationships -- and both stood in contrast to the dismissive types who scored high on avoidance and low on anxiety. (710)

Bartholomew's and Horowitz's study provided an important nuance in analyzing whether people prefer partners who are more like themselves or complementary to themselves. Instead, Bartholomew's and Horowitz's categorization suggests one's own sense of self-worth and anxiety about relationships may affect one's choice of a partner, as well as one's decision to seek out someone who is like or unlike one's self in terms of attachment style, or to avoid relationships altogether.

The authors of the article discovered that all personality….....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Interpersonal Attraction" (2005, March 27) Retrieved June 4, 2026, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/interpersonal-attraction-63602

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Interpersonal Attraction" 27 March 2005. Web.4 June. 2026. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/interpersonal-attraction-63602>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Interpersonal Attraction", 27 March 2005, Accessed.4 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/interpersonal-attraction-63602
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example