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Significance Romantic first impressions seem to linger, but why? Thus far, few studies have distinguished between lingering impressions based on a potential partner’s consensually attractive qualities (popularity) vs. a person’s… Click to show full abstract
Significance Romantic first impressions seem to linger, but why? Thus far, few studies have distinguished between lingering impressions based on a potential partner’s consensually attractive qualities (popularity) vs. a person’s general desirousness (choosiness) vs. a person uniquely liking a potential partner over and beyond the partner’s popularity and the person’s choosiness (compatibility). In this study, we meta-analyzed three speed-dating studies with longitudinal follow-ups to investigate how these three factors contribute to the romantic initiation process. We found that relationship effects and partner effects were the strongest predictors of later romantic desire and dating. These findings suggest that both compatibility and mate value shape human mating decisions, even from a first impression.
Journal Title: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Year Published: 2022
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