Chapter 16
Interpersonal Attraction
Internal Determinants of attraction
1. Human beings are born with an innate need for belonging (Maslow’ hierarchy).
2. Personality factors (introversion vs extroversion)
3. Emotions and moods
External determinants of attraction
1. proximity (attraction is more like to happen between individuals who share/occupy the
same physical space or context)
2. similarity (how much we have in common with another person)
3. physical attractiveness (facial composition, body shape, weight and height)
4. reciprocity effect (we tend to be attracted to people we like and who like us in return).
Melinda’s internal determinants {Case Study of Melinda – page 323}
• Melinda has an innate need to belong: She WANTS a relationship with Nhlanhla, would like
to marry him one day and have been with him for the past six months
• Melinda feels like she needs her relationship with Nhlanhla to function optimally: She
WANT to be with him as she is attracted to his drive and ambition. However, when she is
with her parents, she doubts her relationship with him, since her parents want her to
choose someone who is more the same than her.
• Emotions and moods
Melinda’s external determinants
• proximity (attraction is more like to happen between individuals who share/occupy the
same physical space or context): Melinda and Nonhlanhla share the same lifestyle
similarity (how much we have in common with another person)
• physical attractiveness (facial composition, body shape, weight and height): No information
is given in the case study
• reciprocity effect (we tend to be attracted to people we like and who like us in return):
Melinda wants to marry Nonhlanhla, and they have been together for 6-months, so they so
like each other. Melinda is more likely to like someone who actually likes her! Nonhlanhla
has a girlfriend in Melinda that loves his ambition and drive and therefore he will be more
likely to like her in return.
Interpersonal Attraction
Internal Determinants of attraction
1. Human beings are born with an innate need for belonging (Maslow’ hierarchy).
2. Personality factors (introversion vs extroversion)
3. Emotions and moods
External determinants of attraction
1. proximity (attraction is more like to happen between individuals who share/occupy the
same physical space or context)
2. similarity (how much we have in common with another person)
3. physical attractiveness (facial composition, body shape, weight and height)
4. reciprocity effect (we tend to be attracted to people we like and who like us in return).
Melinda’s internal determinants {Case Study of Melinda – page 323}
• Melinda has an innate need to belong: She WANTS a relationship with Nhlanhla, would like
to marry him one day and have been with him for the past six months
• Melinda feels like she needs her relationship with Nhlanhla to function optimally: She
WANT to be with him as she is attracted to his drive and ambition. However, when she is
with her parents, she doubts her relationship with him, since her parents want her to
choose someone who is more the same than her.
• Emotions and moods
Melinda’s external determinants
• proximity (attraction is more like to happen between individuals who share/occupy the
same physical space or context): Melinda and Nonhlanhla share the same lifestyle
similarity (how much we have in common with another person)
• physical attractiveness (facial composition, body shape, weight and height): No information
is given in the case study
• reciprocity effect (we tend to be attracted to people we like and who like us in return):
Melinda wants to marry Nonhlanhla, and they have been together for 6-months, so they so
like each other. Melinda is more likely to like someone who actually likes her! Nonhlanhla
has a girlfriend in Melinda that loves his ambition and drive and therefore he will be more
likely to like her in return.
