Self-essentialist reasoning underlies the similarity-attraction effect
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6203024 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Charles Chu (0000-0002-4964-9199, Boston University), Brian S Lowery (0000-0002-3606-7990, Stanford University) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 125 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 1055-1071 |
| Publication date | 2023-11-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0022-3514 • E-ISSN: 1939-1315 |
| Publisher | American Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1037/pspi0000425 |
| PMID | 37053416 |
| OpenAlex | W4365450866 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 6 |
We propose that self-essentialist reasoning is a foundational mechanism of the similarity-attraction effect. Our argument is that similarity breeds attraction in two steps: (a) people categorize someone with a shared attribute as a person like me based on the self-essentialist belief that one's attributes are caused by an underlying essence and (b) then apply their essence (and the other attributes it causes) to the similar individual to infer agreement about the world in general (i.e., a generalized shared reality). We tested this model in four experimental studies (N = 2,290) using both individual difference and moderation-of-process approaches. We found that individual differences in self-essentialist beliefs amplified the effect of similarity on perceived generalized shared reality and attraction across both meaningful (Study 1) and minimal (Study 2) dimensions of similarity. We next found that manipulating (i.e., interrupting) the two crucial steps of the self-essentialist reasoning process-that is, by severing the connection between a similar attribute and one's essence (Study 3) and deterring people from applying their essence to form an impression of a similar other (Study 4)-attenuated the effect of similarity on attraction. We discuss the implications for research on the self, similarity-attraction, and intergroup phenomena. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
Argument (complex analysis) · Attraction · Categorization · Epistemology · Essentialism · Interpersonal attraction · Moderation · PsycINFO · Similarity (geometry) · Artificial Intelligence · Chemistry · Computer Science · Cultural Differences and Values · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology
Lay Attributions of Conspiracy Beliefs Predict Intentions to Correct Conspiracy Believers
The impact of childhood sexual abuse on adolescent peer relationships
Great minds think alike
Same but different
The effect of frameswitching on perceptions of decisiveness, creativity, and job fit
How do older adults react to social robots' offspring-like voices
| Unique citing works | 6 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 6 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 6 |