Many have noticed that we are attracted to some people, while others repel us. What is sympathy and why does it arise? There is an opinion that there are 6 factors that explain why people seem attractive to us.
Similarity
The more people like us, the more they seem to us pretty. It is not a question of external resemblance, but of internal. You should have similar ideals and views. This theory can easily be explained by social confirmation. For example, if our thoughts are similar to the opinion of another person, there is a feeling that your point of view is correct.
The value of similarity is often used by marketers. It is proved that the buyer is more likely to buy the goods from the seller who looks like him. What is sympathy? This is a feeling that occurs in people who are like-minded.
Proximity
People who are spatially close to each other are more similar in their material status, marital status, and attitudes. For example, they live in the same locality, work at the same company, go dancing together, etc. Another reason is more commonplace. The closer people are, the more often they see each other, the more likely they are to have sympathy and to maintain social relations.
Social sharing
What is sympathy? This is when there is a balanced exchange between "take" and "return." Such a statement concerns not only material values, but also moral ones. So, if we told the interlocutor a lot about ourselves, but he told us nothing, our sympathy for him may weaken. Therefore, the level of frankness and openness must also be balanced.
Sympathy for us
As a rule, we have feelings of sympathy for that person who has already shown sympathy for you. This factor most often surpasses the effect of proximity and similarity. This psychological device is vividly demonstrated in Shakespeare's play entitled “There is a lot of noise from nothing.” Benedict and Beatrice hated each other and constantly quarreled. Their environment, watching their quarrels, decided to reconcile a couple. To do this, they told Beatrice that behind her, Benedict spoke very well of her. The same was said to Benedict about the girl. As a result of such a trick, each of them begins to take the sympathy of the other at face value. Thus, their relationship is improving.
Associations
Agree, the ice cream seller seems prettier to us than the policeman who wrote a fine. Often sympathy or antipathy arises based on positive or negative associations with a particular person.
Physical attractiveness
Outwardly attractive people are often considered more welcoming, interesting, talented and sociable. Guys are more likely to have a liking for a girl with a bright appearance, since she usually behaves more confidently than less attractive women. American scientists have proven that police officers behave much more condescendingly with beautiful lawbreakers. It’s always easier for an attractive fraudster to gain people's trust.
To say reliably what sympathy is, you need to consider many components. In general, sympathy is a positive attitude towards someone, which is expressed in the manifestation of goodwill and attention.