The attraction-similarity hypothesis among cross-sex friends: Relationship satisfaction, perceived similarities, and self-serving perceptions

Abstract

Individuals often project their own attitudes, behaviors, or relationship views onto close others. These perceptions may or may not be accurate but they influence relationship judgments. Based on the attraction-similarity hypothesis, three studies examine the role of friendship satisfaction in perceptions of similarity in terms of relationship beliefs, traits, and behaviors among cross-sex friends. Study 1 found that college students perceived their cross-sex friends to be similar to themselves. Interclass correlations indicated that these perceptions reflected a belief in the partner’s similarity to the self rather then being an accurate assessment. Supporting the attraction-similarity hypothesis, Studies 2 and 3 found that greater friendship satisfaction predicted greater perceived friend-self similarity for traits and behaviors. Finally, these perceptions were made in a self-enhancing fashion.