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Style and Attraction: The Power of Attractiveness and Similarity of Attitudes
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by Brian B. Drwecki, Donny J. Przygodski, and Robert S. Horton* - Wabash College
Categories: Sensation/Perception | Social
In Experiment 1, men and women were more attracted to an opposite sex target who was dressed in a stylish manner than they were to an opposite sex target who was dressed in an unstylish manner. Experiment 2 examined explanations for the impact of style on attraction and replicated the initial style-attraction link. High style targets were perceived as more attractive and as possessing attitudes that were more similar to the participants' than low style targets. Perceived attractiveness of the target and the perceived similarity of attitudes with the target both mediated the style-attraction link. Our results suggest that (a) clothing style is a strong cue that is used as a basis for interpersonal inferences and (b) individuals tend to associate themselves with a person of high style.