Specific elements usually attract each other more than others. Also, the universe does not judge how people mold their lives, the paint used in their image, or the way they design their situations. It merely reacts to the intentions of their creative mind by bringing their life events, individuals, and circumstances that align with current configurations of talking, thinking, and even responsive yearnings. The law of attraction also depicts that people attractively attract situations, people, and occasions that are in synchronization with their prevailing sentiments, judgments, and designs of self-talk. It is also necessary to note that attraction has four characteristics that seek to define a decisive factor when it entails identifying another person as either attractive or unattractive, and they include similarity, proximity, reciprocity, and physical attractiveness.
The aspect of similarity depicts that individuals are likely to be attracted to those who resemble them, and as such, this is a conflict of the prevalent idea that counterparts attract. The elements leading to the attraction, in this case, maybe age, educational background, political and religious beliefs, values, and other demographic variables. However, one may purport that in reality, people tend to like others who share their similar concerns, welfares, or even inspirations. The principle of similarity further denotes that the superior the number of comparable features, the higher the attraction between two individuals. It is a principle of attraction since it reaffirms a person’s tastes and interests and facilitates the procedure of sharing our setting with other people without detriments or encounters (Stangor, 2014).
An instance of the principle of similarity is in marriages in some cultures. A typical Indian marriage consists of older family members or parents of individuals who screen and find prospective mates who will then be considered further through their community, social circles, or through advertising. However, it is relevant to note that potential candidates entail people of that community only, which is Indians. The similarity in attraction and not with any other culture has resulted in most Indian marriages having a low divorce rate and high levels of satisfaction reported by those who are in these arranged in matrimonies in the long term. As such, the aspect of similarity is evident here as it constitutes people of the same political and religious beliefs, values among other demographic variables.
The second feature of attraction is proximity. It establishes that people are more likely to develop a companionship or even a romantic association with people whom they are closer. By sharing the same setting, it facilitates chances for interaction but then inclines to increase collective compassion between individuals. Conversely, when the contact seems as though it is particularly constant or too extensive, then the attraction can become unfavorable. The same thing is observed when there is a preliminary emotion of hatred, but then the closeness is sustained.
The element of proximity may be observed where two people who live together get into a conflict such that there is no communication among them for some days. Since they live together, they are likely to interact in other ways, such as sharing the same meals, using the same bathroom, or even sleeping in the same bed. As such, all these are forms of interaction that are quite frequent, and after some days, they will find each other talking again. It is quite difficult for such people to live for long with conversing or interacting in any way due to their closeness in the living environment. A better example of people in this situation is those who are married. However, for proximity to function, it is relevant for the parties to engage in face-to-face communication, which is possible among the described instances since they share a communication time and space.
The third element of attraction is reciprocity. It denotes that people tend to be more attracted to those whom they perceive to approve of them in particular situations. It may further be looked at in the notion that people are more sympathetic to those they feel are sympathetic to them as well. As such, this occurs because when one feels approved and accepted, it gives them a feeling of superior assurance, security, and gratification. Also, when others accept one, they are filled with effective judgments about themselves. Thus, they are attracted to the basis of such positive outlooks. It may also be looked at as people become attracted to those who accept them and treat them with kindness despite them not having any comparable interests. Additionally, it has been observed that when one is told that a stranger they interacted with liked them, then research has shown that they would express a greater liking for that individual (Gordon, 2015).
An instance of reciprocity is where a man is hitting on a woman but does not know how to approach
them but instead share his intentions with her friend. The friend may then go and tell the other friend that the man likes her. The next step may entail an analysis of the man concerning his personality, social status, and even character, among others. In the end, she may express a positive interest in the man, and the two may end up having an intimate relationship. In this case, what has occurred is that the woman reciprocates the sentiments of the man towards her positively by developing the same. The element may be more efficient when they both have features that make them attracted to each other easily.
The fourth aspect of attraction is physical attractiveness. Research has demonstrated that romantic attraction is mainly defined by physical attractiveness. When people are in the early stages of dating, they are more attracted to partners whom they consider to be attractive in the physical aspect. Also, men have been observed to be more likely to value physical attractiveness than women. Moreover, people’s perception of their physical attractiveness partakes a role in passionate love. Attractive individuals are also viewed to be happier, smarter, moral, engaging, and sensitive and are liked more than those who are less attractive. Numerous studies have denoted that the physical attractiveness of a partner is usually a consistent forecaster in the initial meetings.
Physical attractiveness can be observed in romantic relationships, whereby people are more attracted to people due to their physical allure. Furthermore, physical attractiveness is a gatekeeper that directs people towards partners who are appropriate regarding age, health, and capability to reproduce. Most married people, when asked what attracted them to their partners, usually state beauty, their age, ability to communicate appropriately, and even desire to settle down and have children. When dating, physical attractiveness is a relevant factor in the decision as compared to traits such as education, personality, and education.
The paper has explored the features of attraction, which is similarity, proximity, physical attractiveness, and reciprocity. It has provided insight into the way interpersonal attraction occurs or even why preference is usually shown to one person as compared to the others. In most cases, it may be challenging to identify what makes an individual attractive, and this has been understood through the exploration of the mysterious magnetism that two people can feel. As such, attraction is due to resemblance among people in the form of political and religious beliefs, values, age, and education background. It may also be due to being close to each other or the possession of positive outlooks and physical features. All these are essential elements in the comprehension of the way relationships behave and that one should not have a judgmental part towards another when they are attracted to an individual since certain features partake a crucial role. The topic is also a fundamental determination towards positive thinking of one’s encounter with other people and the development of sufficient associations……