Group Membership and Belief Similarity As Determinants of Interpersonal Attraction in Peru

Abstract

College students in two universities in Arequipa, Peru, rated target persons differing in terms of group membership and belief similarity on a series of scales designed to measure various aspects of interpersonal attraction. The results indicated that, whereas belief similarity was a reliable determinant of interpersonal attraction, group membership accounted for significantly more variance, even when interpersonal attraction was assessed on dimensions which imply low levels of intimacy. These results were contrasted with those obtained in the United States in connection with the so-called race versus belief controversy. The differences between the two sets of results were attributed to the strong group norms in economically less advanced countries.

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