To test predictions generated from the affectreinforcement theory of attraction, 42 college students interacted with a peer whose attitudes were highly similar to their attitudes (agreement) and a person whose attitudes were highly dissimilar (disagreement). Following an initial interaction in which the degree of attitude similarity became obvious to the subjects, they had to choose one of the peers for continued discussion about two of the attitude topics. Two-thirds of the subjects chose to talk to the disagreeing peer (az .05); furthermore, more often the subjects chose to talk about topics on which they were in disagreement with the peer (p<.001).
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