The Effects of Self-Esteemand Self-Consciousness on Interpersonal Attraction

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of rater and target similarity along the personality dimensions of self-esteem, private self-consciousness, and public self-consciousness on interpersonal attraction. Previously unacquainted opposite-sex subject pairs completed personality measures and engaged in ten-minute conversation with each other. After the conversation all subjects rated their partner's attractiveness. The traits of self-esteem and public self-consciousnesss produced rater x target interaction effects. Subjects liked one another more when they were similar rather than dissimilar along these dimensions. Private self-consciousness yielded a target main effect, such that targets were liked more if they were high rather than low in private self-consciousness. Implications are discussed.