The effect of actual and inferred value similarity on interpersonal liking

• Main Author: Correa Vione, Katia
• Published: Cardiff University 2016
• Subjects: 302; BF Psychology
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.699383

This research examined whether value similarity between a person and another individual elicits more positive attitudes towards the individual. Chapter 1 provides a review of the interpersonal similarity-liking effect, which has been studied primarily in research on attitudes and personality, and it raises some issues that might be particularly relevant to examining effects of value similarity. Chapter 2 tested the similarity-liking effect by manipulating actual similarity in reported values, and found that value similarity increased liking in both a between and within-subjects design (Studies 1 and 2). Chapter 3 described four experiments testing the similarity-liking effect using trait-like descriptions to manipulate the extent to which a target individual is perceived as possessing similar values to the participant. Results indicated that perceived similarity predicts liking in a positive direction, and that this relationship is mediated by the perception of the target individual’s warmth and competence. Finally, Chapter 4 reviews the contribution of this research, discussing findings and implications. Overall, data from the six experiments provides novel and robust evidence that value similarity increases liking, while providing provocative evidence about the mechanisms underpinning this effect.