Philip Worchel

Similarity versus liking as determinants of interpersonal attractiveness

In a 2 by 2 design, Ss were led to believe that a person with whom they had interacted either liked them or disliked them and that his attitudes on several issues were either similar or dissimilar to the S’s own attitudes. The results indicated that “liking” had a significant effect upon the S’s feelings for the other person — regardless of attitude similarity or dissimilarity. The results were discussed in terms of a possible alternative explanation for the bulk of the data showing a positive relationship between attitude similarity and interpersonal attraction.

The vestibular organs in space orientation

Two groups of 15 totally deaf Ss were divided on the basis of the presence or absence of vestibular sensitivity. Each S was blindfolded and led over the two 72-ft. legs of an isosceles triangle laid off on the playground, and was then asked to return over the 114-ft. base to the original starting point. Each S was given five trials, and both distance from the starting point and angular deviation from the base were calculated. RESULTS The results showed no significant differences between the two groups on angular deviation, but the group with vestibular organs returned significantly closer (between 10% and 5 % level) to the starting position than the vestibulardefective group. It was concluded that kinesthesis is effective over short distances, but the vestibular organs play a dominant role over long distances.