Attraction is something we all experience every day. But attraction is not so simple, there is different types of attraction and interactions that draw us to another person. In interpersonal communication, attraction is something that leads to friendships and romantic relationships. There are a lot of factors that attract us to another person. The first thing is of course looks, because it is the first thing we see about a person. Although there are universal attributes of beauty, such as symmetry, proportionality, and facial neoteny, everyone is physically attracted to by different people and looks. Similarity, familiarity, common beliefs, and reciprocity are all also factors that draw us to another person. These factors lead us to be attracted to someone in some way; such as social, universal, sexual, or fatal. All of these types of attractions have different desires of how we would like to interact with someone. Whether it be to engage in sexual activity, be friends with someone, or even be an attractive quality that ends a relationship, we would say that it is the power of attraction. Personal qualities, environmental factors, and chemistry are all factors that influence the way we feel about another person.
The Hourglass figure
The way we see and rate people as attractive is not all a conscious choice. The hourglass figure in women is an example of an evolutionary aspect of attraction.
"So what explains the universal and enduring appeal of the hourglass figure? One explanation based on evolutionary psychological theory is that female beauty as represented by the hourglass figure taps into important biological information about various factors regulating women's reproductive potential and fertility." (Singh, 2010)
Going along with Singh's research, the reason we are attracted to an hourglass figure is because that individual biologically would be the most successful at reproducing. If your average college aged male thought that out and came to the conclusion that the women they were looking at was good at having babies, they would probably not be attracted to the hourglass figure. So in their subconscious, males are influenced by their evolutionary need to reproduce, and therefore the hourglass figure is universally found to be attractive.
As cynical but practical as it is, other universal attractive attributes have the same evolutionary goal, that being to find someone to make healthy babies with.
SOCIAL ATTRACTION
We all experience this at one point or another. We can be socially attracted to people for various reasons. We may feel like someone would be nice to us because they are nice to so many other people around them. Socially attractive people can seem more dependable and therefore will be a better friend to have. Some people are only looking for stimulating conversations and socially attractive people are more likely to provide that than are introverts. All of these are intrinsic reasons.
We can also be socially attracted to someone for extrinsic reasons. If someone has a lot of money, or appears to be wealthy, they may have more friends and more connections than those who are not well off. Other people can be seen as socially attractive if they are always surrounded by a bunch of hot men or women. In my opinion, being socially attracted to someone for extrinsic reasons is for the greater purpose of wanting to be “upgraded” in a sense. Becoming acquainted or friends with the wealthy person will heighten the chances of being able to expand your networks and find ways to earn more money. Becoming familiar with the person who always attracts physically attractive people can put you in a better position to be able to ask on of them out.
Enticing leads to terror! It may be appealing to the eyes or a very pleasing idea at the time but the very thing that allures you to someone/something will turn into the Achilles Heel.
Works Cited
It is basic instinct for humans to want to love and be loved in return. But for some, this basic desire can take them into obsessive and dangerous territory.
A person’s vulnerability to certain physical attributes can direct them to the wrong type of person in terms of match making. Example: A woman that always goes for the bad boy type because she likes his exterior will end up dealing with all of his bad boy characteristics too. Potentially putting herself in an abusive relationship where she is treated badly and is harmed in both a physical and emotional way.
Fatal attraction can be a very dangerous attraction. In severe cases, obsession can lead to restraining orders being filed and damage is always done. Hint the word fatal.
Sexual attraction
There are many forms of attraction but none as juicy as sexual attraction. Sexual attraction the desire to engage sexually with someone is one of the driving forces in this world. Men and women alike will do out of character things when they are sexually attracted to someone. Men will work exceedingly hard for long hours to earn enough to purchase a nice car so women will find them more sexually attractive. Females will go on strict diets and run for hours on in trying to become more sexually attractive. There are more than just physical aspects to sexual attraction though a nice laugh singing talent or intelligence is all major turn ons as well. To help make my point of sexual attraction and how beautiful it can be I bring you a man who was and is a sex symbol and icon mister, Marvin Gaye
Works Cited
Singh, D. (2010). Universal allure of the hourglass figure. Retrieved October 16, 2011, from PubMed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16818094
