Nonverbal Aspects of Attraction

Abstract

Why do some people like other people? Vonnegut’s (1965, p. 74) Elliott Rosewater was liked because of his goodness and helpfulness. Other people are liked for different reasons, the major ones being that they (1) satisfy some need of the person who likes them, (2) they are similar to that person, (3) they are desirable or attractive, or (4) they are close at hand. Before we discuss the role of nonverbal behavior, we will first summarize major conclusions from attraction research, as collected into these four categories.

“You could have been so high and mighty in this world, that when you looked down on the plain, dumb, ordinary people of poor old Rosewater County, we would look like bugs.”

“Now, now—”

“You gave up everything a man is supposed to want, just to help the little people, and the little people know it. God bless you, Mr. Rosewater. Good night.”