AS FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE MEETS
ATTRACTION AS THE START OF LOVE
GIVEN THAT CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS are so vital to well-being, it is important to ask how interpersonal relationships begin. What makes us like or love one person but not another ? Why is it, that when bad things happen, we frequently want to talk to our friends or family about the situation ? Though these are difficult questions to answer because relationship are complicated and unique, we can examine how relationships begin; the impact of technology on relationships; and why co-workers, acquaintances, friends, families, and intimate partners are so important in our lives.
WHY DO SOME PEOPLE hit it off immediately ? Or decide that a friend of a friend was not likable ? Using scientific methods, psychologists have investigated factors influencing attraction and have identified a number of variables such as similarity, proximity, familiarity, and reciprocity, that influence with whom we develop relationships. Great and important relationships can develop by chance and physical proximity helps.
OUR NEARNESS TO LOVE
OFTEN WE STUMBLE upon friends or romantic partners; this happens partly due to how close in proximity we are to those people. Specifically, proximity or physical nearness has been found to be a significant factor in the development of relationships. Proximity is not just about geographic distance, but rather functional distance, or the frequency with which we crossed path with others. In terms of developing online relationships and attractions, functional distance refers to being at the same place at the same time in a virtual world– crossing virtual paths. One of the reasons why proximity matters to attraction is that it breeds familiarities: People are more attracted to that which is familiar. Just being around someone or being repeatedly exposed to them increases the likelihood that we will be attracted to them. We also tend to feel safe with familiar people, as it is likely we know what to expect from them.
THERE IS A CERTAIN COMFORT in knowing what to expect from others; consequently, research suggests that we like what is familiar. While this is often on a subconscious level, research has found this to one of the most basic principles of attractions.
AND THERE IS LOVE
ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP are so central to psychological health that most people in the world are o PHYSICAL ATTRACTION, r will be in a romantic relationship in their lifetime. ALL TYPES OF LOVE ARE COMPRISEDOF 3 DISTINCT AREAS: INTIMACY, PASSION AND COMMITMENT. INTIMACY– INCLUDES CARING, CLOSENESS, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. PASSION– IS COMPRISED OF PHYSIOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL AROUSAL, THIS CAN INCLUDE PHYSICAL ATRACTION, EMOTIONAL RESPONSES THAT PROMOTES PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES AND SEXUAL AROUSAL. LASTLY, COMMITMENT– REFERS TO THE COGNITIVE PROCESS AND DECISIONS TO COMMIT TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON AND THE WILLINGNESS TO WORK TO KEEP THAT LOVE OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE.
Relationship goals 