Editing Interpersonal attraction (section)

====Other social and cultural aspects====
Byrne, Clore and Worchel (1966) suggested that people with similar economic status are likely to be attracted to each other.<ref name=byrne1966>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1037/h0023559 | last1 = Byrne | first1 = D. | last2 = Clore | first2 = G. L. J. | last3 = Worchel | first3 = P. | year = 1966 | title = Effect of economic similarity-dissimilarity on interpersonal attraction | journal = Journal of Personality and Social Psychology | volume = 4 | issue = 2| pages = 220–224 }}</ref> Buss & Barnes (1986) also found that people prefer their romantic partners to be similar in certain demographic characteristics, including religious background, political orientation and [[socio-economic status]].<ref>*{{cite journal | doi = 10.1037/0022-3514.50.3.559 | last1 = Buss | first1 = D. M. | last2 = Barnes | first2 = M. | year = 1986 | title = Preferences in human mate selection | journal = [[Journal of Personality and Social Psychology]] | volume = 50 | issue = 3 | pages = 559–570 | url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232444193 | access-date = 2019-01-27 | archive-date = 2022-01-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220125080049/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232444193_Preferences_in_Human_Mate_Selection | url-status = live }}</ref>

Researchers have shown that interpersonal attraction was positively correlated to [[Personality psychology|personality]] similarity.<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1007/BF02087933 | pmid = 24318017 | last1 = Goldman | first1 = J. A. | last2 = Rosenzweig | first2 = C. M. | last3 = Lutter | first3 = A. D. | year = 1980 | title = Effect of similarity of ego identity status on interpersonal attraction | journal = [[Journal of Youth and Adolescence]] | volume = 9 | issue = 2| pages = 153–162 | s2cid = 10589621 }}</ref> People are inclined to desire romantic partners who are similar to themselves on agreeableness, conscientiousness, extroversion, emotional stability, openness to experience,<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1997.tb00531.x | last1 = Botwin | first1 = M. D. | last2 = Buss | first2 = D. M. | last3 = Shackelford | first3 = T. K. | year = 1997 | title = Personality and mate preferences: Five factors in mate selection and marital satisfaction | journal = [[Journal of Personality]] | volume = 65 | issue = 1| pages = 107–136 | pmid = 9143146 | s2cid = 15643556 | url = https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/5158/d9f36fb17bc37171ae7ecb6fc7d26493805f.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120204/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/5158/d9f36fb17bc37171ae7ecb6fc7d26493805f.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2018-01-19 }}</ref> and attachment style.<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1037/0022-3514.85.4.709 | last1 = Klohnen | first1 = E. C. | last2 = Luo | first2 = S. | year = 2003 | title = Interpersonal attraction and personality: What is attractive – self similarity, ideal similarity, complementarity, or attachment security? | journal = Journal of Personality and Social Psychology | volume = 85 | issue = 4| pages = 709–722 | pmid = 14561124 }}</ref>

Activity similarity was especially predictive of liking judgments, which affects the judgments of attraction.<ref name=lydon1988 /> According to the post-conversation measures of social attraction, tactical similarity was positively correlated with partner satisfaction and global competence ratings, but was uncorrelated with the opinion change and perceived persuasiveness measures.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Waldron | first1 = V. R. | last2 = Applegate | first2 = J. L. | year = 1998 | title = Similarity in the use of person-centered tactics: Effects on social attraction and persuasiveness in dyadic verbal disagreements | journal = Communication Reports | volume = 11 | issue = 2| pages = 155–165 | doi = 10.1080/08934219809367697 }}</ref>

When checking similar variables they were also seen as more similar on a number of personality characteristics. This study found that the length of the average relationship was related to perceptions of similarity; the couples who were together longer were seen as more equal. This effect can be attributed to the fact that when time passes by couples become more alike through shared experiences, or that couples that are alike stay together longer.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Zajonc | first1=R. B. | last2=Adelmann | first2=Pamela K. | last3=Murphy | first3=Sheila T. | last4=Niedenthal | first4=Paula M. | title=Convergence in the physical appearance of spouses | journal=Motivation and Emotion | date=1 December 1987 | url=https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/45361/11031_2004_Article_BF00992848.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y | doi=10.1007/BF00992848 | issn=0146-7239 | volume=11 | issue=4 | pages=335–346 | hdl=2027.42/45361 | s2cid=16501311 | hdl-access=free | access-date=19 January 2018 | archive-date=5 November 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105144717/https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/45361/11031_2004_Article_BF00992848.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y | url-status=live }}</ref>

Similarity has effects on starting a relationship by initial attraction to know each other. It is shown that high attitude similarity resulted in a significant increase in initial attraction to the target person and high attitude dissimilarity resulted in a decrease of initial attraction.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Gutkin | first1 = T. B. | last2 = Gridley | first2 = G. C. | last3 = Wendt | first3 = J. M. | year = 1976 | title = The effect of initial attraction and attitude similarity-dissimilarity on interpersonal attraction | journal = Cornell Journal of Social Relations | volume = 11 | issue = 2| pages = 153–160 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Kaplan | first1 = M. F. | last2 = Olczak | first2 = P. V. | year = 1971 | title = Attraction toward another as a function of similarity and commonality of attitudes | journal = [[Psychological Reports]] | volume = 28 | issue = 2| pages = 515–521 | doi = 10.2466/pr0.1971.28.2.515 | s2cid = 143796470 }}</ref> Similarity also promotes relationship commitment.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Relationship-Commitment – Articles, Blogs, Comments, Discussions, Postings {{!}} ispace1|url=https://www.ispace1.com/Relationship-Commitment|access-date=2020-11-16|website=ispace1.com|language=en-us|archive-date=2020-11-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128220646/https://www.ispace1.com/Relationship-Commitment|url-status=live}}</ref> Study on heterosexual dating couples found that similarity in intrinsic values of the couple was linked to relationship commitment and stability.<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1177/01461672972310011 | last1 = Kurdek | first1 = L. A. | last2 = Schnopp-Wyatt | first2 = D. | year = 1997 | title = Predicting relationship commitment and relationship stability from both partners' relationship values: Evidence from heterosexual dating couples | journal = Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin | volume = 23 | issue = 10| pages = 1111–1119 | s2cid = 145255443 }}</ref>

Social homogamy refers to "passive, indirect effects on spousal similarity". The result showed that age and education level are crucial in affecting the mate preference. Because people with similar age study and interact more in the same form of the school, propinquity effect (i.e., the tendency of people to meet and spend time with those who share the common characteristics) plays a significant impact in spousal similarity. Convergence refers to an increasing similarity with time. Although the previous research showed that there is a greater effect on attitude and value than on personality traits, however, it is found that initial assortment (i.e., similarity within couples at the beginning of marriage) rather than convergence, plays a crucial role in explaining spousal similarity.<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1111/j.0022-3506.2004.00289.x | last1 = Watson | first1 = D. | last2 = Klohnen | first2 = E. C. | last3 = Casillas | first3 = A. | last4 = Nus | first4 = S. E. | last5 = Haig | first5 = J. | last6 = Berry | first6 = D. S. | year = 2004 | title = Match makers and deal breakers: Analyses of assortative mating in newlywed couples | journal = Journal of Personality | volume = 72 | issue = 5| pages = 1029–68 | pmid = 15335336 | citeseerx = 10.1.1.470.7636 }}</ref>

Active assortment refers to direct effects on choosing someone similar to oneself in mating preferences. The data showed that there is a greater effect on political and religious attitudes than on personality traits. A follow-up issue on the reason of the finding was raised. The concepts of idiosyncratic (i.e. different individuals have different mate preferences) and consensual (i.e. a consensus of preference on some prospective mates to others) in mate preference. The data showed that mate preference on political and religious bases tend to be idiosyncratic, for example, a Catholic would be more likely to choose a mate who is also a Catholic, as opposed to a Buddhist. Such idiosyncratic preferences produce a high level of active assortment which plays a vital role in affecting spousal similarity. In summary, active assortment plays a large role, whereas convergence has little evidence on showing such effect.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}