INTERPERSONAL ATTRACTIVENESS
by
Charles Lamson
Interpersonal attractiveness refers to the degree to which we are drawn toward another person. If there are five strangers in a room, which one do we feel we want to be near? If five coworkers are available to help us, which one do we feel we want to go to? If five acquaintances are at a social gathering, which one do we feel we want to talk with? People are drawn to some people, but are repulsed by others. This is the phenomenon of interpersonal attraction. Like credibility, interpersonal attractiveness is multi-dimensional. There are three dimensions: physical, social, and task (McCroskey and McCain, 1974). All of these forms of interpersonal attraction may be related. However, each has a unique component, which may function separately from the other two.
Physical Attractiveness. Whenever attractiveness is mentioned, most people think of physical attractiveness first. This is the dimension of attractiveness which typically has the most impact on human relationships. In fact, it may determine whether there is any human relationship at all.
Physical attractiveness is a perception, a perception which may or may not be shared by people with different backgrounds, cultures, or experiences. It is a matter of taste and preference. This is why two people may see the same person at the same time, and report very different levels of physical attraction. However, within a culture, and to an extent even across cultures, there is substantial agreement on the physical appearance characteristics, which result in people seeing an individual as physically attractive. Most of these characteristics have to do with bone and facial structure (about which we can do little), weight (over which we usually can have some control), and stylishness, cleanliness, carriage, and neatness (over which we typically can have a great deal of control).
Perceptions of physical attractiveness have their greatest importance during the initial phases of human relationships, particularly within organizations. Humans often prevent contact with people they see as interpersonally attractive. That is, if we see someone we perceive as physically unattractive, we are likely to take extra effort not to have any additional contact with them, while we go out of our way to make contact with people we perceive as physically attractive. The implications of this for job interviews are obvious. In addition, presuming the person can overcome that obstacle and get the job, lack of physical attractiveness also may be a major obstacle to gaining acceptance of other people in the work group. Simply put, physically attractive means good. All kinds of positive characteristics are commonly attributed to people who are seen as physically attractive - intelligence, honesty, experience, insight, wealth, credibility and sexuality.
Thus, it is obvious that the more physically attractive we seem, the better. Almost, but not quite. There are two reservations to this presumably obvious conclusion. First, people who are extremely physically attractive, often are rejected by those less endowed. They are not seen as approachable. They are seen as having a superiority complex. They are seen as getting a lot of advantages they have not earned. Often, they are deeply disliked by others of the same gender (particularly hard for females). These are responses generated by envy and resentment.
The impact of physical attractiveness has a short life. If we interact with the physically attractive individual, and find a lack of other positive qualities, we tend to see the person as less attractive on the other attractiveness dimensions over time. We even reevaluate their physical attractiveness downward. Thus, physical attractiveness has a major (mostly positive) impact in organizations during initial encounters, but that impact tends to lessen for the more attractive individuals, as more interaction occurs. In contrast, people seen initially as unattractive, may actually be seen as more attractive over time. This comes as a function of the way they are perceived on the other attractiveness dimensions. Most of us have friends who are considered by others as somewhat physically unattractive, although they may not seem that way to us. We perceive their social and/or task attractiveness as high, and generalize that perception in part to their physical attractiveness.
Within organizations, physical attractiveness is particularly important for people who apply for or hold positions, which call for direct contact with the public - such as positions in hospitality, direct sales, and public relations. Much of the communication in these positions is conducted within the context of initial encounters - precisely where physical attractiveness has its strongest and most positive or negative impact. Where more long term contact is mandated, the other dimensions of attractiveness come into play more strongly.
Social Attractiveness. This dimension of attractiveness represents the degree to which a person is seen as one with whom other people would like to spend time at a social level. A socially attractive person is one with whom we would like to go get a cup of coffee, have lunch, or get together outside the work environment. We might invite this person to our home. This type of attractiveness is not based on physical appearance (although that can make a contribution), but rather how friendly and likable the person is perceived to be. While we might initially be socially attracted to a person because of their physical appearance, this attraction will disappear unless the person is also socially desirable. If we find someone socially attractive, it is likely that we will desire a relationship with them that continues for an extended period.
In contemporary society, many people spend more time with their coworkers in an organization than they do with any other people - including family. It is no longer unusual for a person's social friends to also be their coworkers. Hence, when people move, it is quite common that they will find new people to be socially attractive, and hence, they will develop new friendships. The line between coworker and friend has become finer in recent decades. Of course, this does not mean that we will develop friendships with all of our coworkers. This will be true only with those coworkers we find socially attractive, and who also see us as socially attractive.
Task Attractiveness. This dimension of attraction is the one which is most relevant in the organizational context. We see people who we believe, or know to be easy and pleasant to work with, to be task attractive. Also, contributing to perceptions of task attractiveness on the part of achievement-oriented workers, is competence in performing work-related tasks, a willingness to share responsibility and workload, a commitment to successfully completing tasks, and a willingness to engage in goal-directed communication. Of course, not everyone is highly interested in work. Some employees find people who are lazy or shiftless to be task-attractive - since they do not want to work either.
Task attractiveness is based on what one desires as a work partner. generally, but not universally. We want pleasant, hardworking, competent people as coworkers. We want people who will do their share, if not more, and do it in such a way that the work environment is a pleasant place to be.
It is quite possible that we have people in our environment, who we find to be attractive on all three dimensions - they are pleasant to look at, be with, and work with. but that certainly is not the typical situation. Think back to when you were in high school, and had to do a team project. You probably were pleased to learn that the class nerd was assigned to your team, but probably you did not want him/her to join your social group, or be you date for the prom. While it is quite possible that a person can be perceived as attractive on more than one dimension, that is not necessarily the case. There are people we want to work with, and people we want to socialize with. There may be some overlap in the two groups but it is rare if the groups are identical.
Attractiveness, particularly social and task attractiveness, is in the eye of the beholder. Attractiveness is not a possession of the person we find attractive. Just as was the case of source credibility, attractive is something we are seen to be, not necessarily something we actually are.
*SOURCE: ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION FOR SURVIVAL 3RD ED. BY VIRGINIA P. RICHMOND, JAMES C. MCCROSKEY AND LINDA L. MCCROSKEY; PGS. 99-102*
END
|
No comments:
Post a Comment