Interpersonal Attraction Case Study

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First Theoretical Perspective: Ellaine Hatfield’s Theory of Interpersonal Attraction In analyzing the aspect of attraction, we take a look at attraction from the perspective of Elaine Hatfield and Ellen Berscheid. Hatfield and Berscheid are American social psychologists whose work has helped to provide insight into what we now know about relationship science. According to Hatfield and Berscheid’s theory on interpersonal attraction, people are attracted to one another for four main reasons. Each reason presented helps to develop the reasons for attraction and relational differences between Landon and Jamie. Interpersonal Attraction: Reason One In relation to Landon and Jamie’s relationship, the four reasons that people are attracted to one …show more content…

Traits such as having a closed mind to the concept of love. Neither Landon nor Jamie were looking for an intimate partner and shunned the thought of love. Also, both characters exhibited the trait; stubbornness. Landon was stubborn in that he would act out in school no matter how many times he got into trouble. Jamie exhibited stubbornness by not wanting to accept new people into her life, such as Landon. These traits were the only similarities that Landon and Jamie initially shared. According to the interpersonal attraction theory, these common traits exhibited in different ways, helped to bring Landon and Jaime …show more content…

The reciprocity of likeness between two people creates a stronger bond than that of two people who are less fond of one another. Reciprocity of likeness is tricky when discussing the relationship of Landon and Jamie. Landon and Jamie did not share feelings of likeness until after a few rocky situations between them occurred. For example, Landon and Jamie had multiple arguments because they were apart of different social groups and their relationship was not socially accepted. Landon, was a part of the popular group and Jamie a “religious loner”. However, once Jamie saw that Landon was truly serious about liking her, she expressed a reciprocal feeling back. The interpersonal attraction theory proposes that the connection of an innate longing for love and closeness caused Landon and Jamie to connect through

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