Interpersonal Attraction and Visual Behavior as a Function of Perceived Arousal and Evaluation by an Opposite Sex Person

Abstract

Summary Forty female college students were interviewed by male interviewers (Is) and led to believe that the Is had given them either favorable, neutral, or unfavorable evaluations. Half of the Ss were given false heart-rate feedback indicating that their arousal was significantly higher than that of other people being interviewed. The remaining Ss were given false heart-rate feedback that their arousal was average. It was predicted according to Berscheid and Walster's love theory that perceived arousal in the presence of a favorable I would be labeled as positive affection and perceived arousal in the presence of an unfavorable I would be labeled as negative affection. This prediction was supported by the finding that “aroused” Ss expressed greatest willingness to return for a second interview with a favorable I and least willingness to return for a second interview with an unfavorable I. For “nonaroused” Ss, I evaluations had no influence on expressed willingness to return. Evaluations given by Ss to Is...