Abstract
AbstractThe purpose of the present experiment was to demonstrate how the classical similarity hypothesis (Byrne, 1971; Festinger, 1954) can be moderated by an individual difference variable called social comparison orientation (Gibbons & Buunk, 1999). This variable distinguishes people who exhibit different degrees of uncertainty about reality and self‐knowledge. Based on prior studies on ability and opinion comparisons, we predicted that attitudinal similarity would not affect interpersonal attraction in high‐comparison orientation individuals. Because of uncertainty and confusion about their self‐knowledge, these people should be attracted to both similar and dissimilar others. In contrast, we expected an effect of attitude similarity in low‐comparison orientation individuals because they do not exhibit this type of uncertainty. They should be only attracted to similar others who agree with them. The results confirmed this prediction and suggested some directions for future studies. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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