Interpersonal Relationship Levels and Interpersonal Attraction

Abstract

The present studies were designed to explore the factorial composition of sources of attraction and to see how the various dimensions of attractiveness varied across the relationship levels of formal role, acquaintance, friend, close friend, and lover. In the first phase of the study, persons indicated those attributes they found attractive in specific persons. In the second phase, persons indicated the extent to which persons with whom they had different types of relationships possessed the various attributes suggested by the first phase respondents. Three attractiveness dimensions emerged from the analyses: sociability, character, and supportiveness. Supportiveness discriminated best among the five relationship categories. These findings were discussed in terms of current theory and research in interpersonal communication and interpersonal attraction.