Interpersonal Attraction

Introduction;
This paper intends to prove that a person’s looks are the most important characteristic when it comes to romantic relationships. This paper will specifically focus on the first contact between a person and a potential significant other, as it is that meetings outcome that allows for a romantic relationship to begin. It will also determine if other factors of interpersonal attraction influence the beginnings of a romantic relationship above that of a person’s looks, as well as refute arguments against the claim.
Attraction, specifically physical attraction;
Attraction is defined (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) as “the natural feeling of being drawn to other individuals and desiring their company”. Individuals can be drawn to others

It does this by looking at the other three factors of interpersonal attraction and deducing that while proximity and reciprocity are valid factors in forming long-term romantic relationships, they are not applicable to the first contact as they need either time, to allow exposure repeatedly, or trust, “you’ll scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours”. Similarity faced issues, as it needed a level of communication to be a relevant factor unless linked to physical attractiveness. This proves that physical attractions is the most important factor of interpersonal attraction. The paper then proved that similarity and physical attractiveness can be connected, and why, although similarity isn’t the most relevant factor in a romantic relationship, it is still of great significances when it comes to the physical attraction. Criticisms arouse, that many people discount good looks as an important characteristic when asked to rate them. This was done by first looking at the characteristics, and then comparing the results to research that proved that they are generally applied or stereotyped to attractive people, for example good health or a good social standing. Another criticism that focused on personal levels of good looks rather than external, argued that attractiveness cannot be the most important characteristic as it is only for the famous, this paper disproved this by referencing a study showing that medium levels of attractiveness showed the same response as high levels. Overall this paper proves physical attraction is the most important characteristic in romantic