SAGE Reference - The SAGE Encyclopedia of Psychology and Gender

Entry
Reader's guide
Entries A-Z
Subject index

Attraction

By: Erin A. Van Enkevort, Cathy R. Cox & Mike Kersten
In: The SAGE Encyclopedia of Psychology and Gender
Edited by: Kevin L. Nadal
Subject:Gender & Psychology
Keywords:attachment; attachment styles; attachment theory; attraction; attractiveness; heterosexuality; masculinities

Attraction is a force that draws people together. It can take a variety of forms (e.g., admiration, liking, love) and is integral to the formation of friendships and romantic relationships. This entry briefly reviews several psychological perspectives on interpersonal attraction. The manner in which proximity, similarity, and physical appearance affect attraction is first discussed. How evolution and attachment theory relate to attraction is also considered.

Proximity

Individuals are attracted to others who are in geographic and temporal proximity. Specifically, people develop a preference for persons and objects following repeated exposure (mere exposure effect) and are attracted to individuals the more they see and interact with others (propinquity effect). People encounter others in close proximity more often and, as a result, become more attracted because of familiarity. If ...

Tools
Tools icon close
- Add to list Added to list Added
- Download PDFopens in new window
- Cite
  
  Cite icon close
  
  Format APA
  
  Enkevort, E., Cox, C., & Kersten, M. (2017). Attraction. In K. Nadal (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of psychology and gender (pp. 116-116). SAGE Publications, Inc., https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483384269.n43
  
  Enkevort, Erin A. Van, Cathy R. Cox, and Mike Kersten. "Attraction." In The SAGE Encyclopedia of Psychology and Gender, edited by Nadal, Kevin L., 116-116. Thousand Oaks,, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2017. https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483384269.n43.
  
  Enkevort, E., Cox, C. and Kersten, M. 2017. Attraction. In: Kevin L. Nadal Editor, 2017. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Psychology and Gender, Thousand Oaks,, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. pp. 116 Available at: <https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483384269.n43> [Accessed 13 Aug 2022].
  
  Enkevort, Erin A. Van, et al. "Attraction." The SAGE Encyclopedia of Psychology and Gender. Edited by Kevin L. Nadal. Thousand Oaks,: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2017, pp. 116-116. SAGE Knowledge. 13 Aug 2022, doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483384269.n43.
  
  Enkevort, Erin A. Van, Cathy R. CoxMike Kersten (2017). Attraction In: Nadal, Kevin L. (Ed.),Attraction The SAGE encyclopedia of psychology and gender Thousand Oaks,, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.; 2017:116-116. doi:10.4135/9781483384269.n43
  copy to clipboard
  or
  
  Export to your reference manager Endnote
  
  Export
  
  Cancel
- Share
  
  Share icon close
  
  Share via
  
  Email
  
  Please log in from an authenticated institution or log into your member profile to access the email feature.
  
  Sign in/register
- Text size
  
  Text Size close
  
  small
  
  Medium
  
  Large
  
  Cancel
- Embed
  
  Embed icon close
  
  Embed this Content
  Add this content to your learning management system or webpage by copying the code below into the HTML editor on the page. Look for the words HTML or </>. Learn More about Embedding icon link (opens in new window)
  
  Embed code:
  
  Copy to clipboard
  
  Cancel
- Get link
  
  Get link icon close
  
  Link to this page directly with a permalink:
  https://sk.sagepub.com/Reference/the-sage-encyclopedia-of-psychology-and-gender/i2523.xml
  
  Copy to clipboard
  
  Cancel
On this page
On this page icon close
On this page

Data resources

Document resources

Video resources

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
Read modern, diverse business cases
Explore hundreds of books and reference titles

No internet connection.

Attraction

Proximity

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

Read next

More like this

SAGE Recommends