FACTORS BASED ON INTERACTING WITH OTHERS: SIMILARITY AND MUTUAL LIKING

Indications that another person is similar to them and negatively to indications that another person is dissimilar from them is referred as similarity-dissimilarity effect. The similarity effect also makes one to judge the similar person having positive traits. More the proportion of similarity among two people more possibility of attraction can be expected. 

An idea that was proposed as an alternative to similarity-dissimilarity hypothesis is that rather than people getting attracted on the basis of similarity it is opposite of that, people repulse about dissimilarity. This is referred as repulsion hypothesis. This hypothesis could not stand on empirical ground, but it is believed that not only similarity but the dissimilarity among two people generates negative affect and hence influences interpersonal attraction.  Research literature provides three theoretical explanations for the phenomenon that similarity generates positive affect and dissimilarity produces negative affect. First is the balance theory which states that people have a tendency to organize their likes and dislikes in symmetrical way. 

When people like each other and find similarity among each other, this generates a balance and elicits positive emotional state which is pleasant state of mind. When people like each other and find dissimilarity between them, this generates imbalance which is an unpleasant emotional state. This situation drives the individual to restore balance by either change in one of them for similarity or misperceive the dissimilarity or decide to dislike each other. The non-balance occurs whenever two people dislike each other, this does not necessarily generate pleasant or unpleasant state. Each person can be just indifferent to each other’s similarity and dissimilarity.  

Second is the social comparison theory. It states that you compare your attitude, views and beliefs with other person as this is only way to evaluate that other people agree with you or not this process you keep on evaluating that you are not exceptionally different from other people. This is referred as obtaining consensual validation by turning to others.  The third approach is to explain this phenomenon by adaptive response to potential danger. This is an evolutionary which state that we are primed to respond like our ancestors as they use to respond to the individual from other group by moving towards him-for friendship, moving away from him because of some threat and moving against him-being aggressive towards him. This indicates that these behaviors have survival.

Till now our discussion is centered on the fact that affect is central to the interpersonal attraction, especially similarity as it elicits positive emotional state and fosters attraction. However, with affective state the cognitive evaluation is also said to be equally important. Though we follow affect centered understanding for interpersonal attraction the role of cognitive factors like stereotypes, beliefs and the factual knowledge needs to be considered. 

Mutual liking: It will not give us a complete understanding if we ignore a very important process which mediates initial attraction and the established interpersonal relationship. The intention is to refer the reciprocating cues of liking. The exchange of communicating the likings that leads to generation of positive emotional state. The next in the process is the clear communication of mutual liking which further strengthens mutual liking.

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