Hello, Psych-Whiz! Let's dive into the fascinating world of cognitive determinants of attraction. Grab your favorite snack and let's get started!

This theory is like trading Pokémon cards: we appreciate those who appreciate us. It's tied to our self-esteem and self-image. When people like us, it's as if they're giving a thumbs-up to our choices, and it feels awesome!

Real-life example: Imagine you baked a batch of cookies, and your best friend loved them! This would make you feel appreciated and valued, and likely make you like your friend even more!

What does research say? Well, studies show that if we feel welcomed and accepted by a group, we're more attracted to that group. If not, we're less likely to be interested. In fact, this effect is even stronger among people with low self-esteem (Dittes, 1959).

So, the more we like each other, the more it fuels the spiral of attraction - like an infinite loop of likeability! (Kenny and La Voie, 1982).

This principle is like re-watching your favorite Netflix series: the more we see something or someone, the more we like it. This is known as the mere-exposure effect (Zajonc and Mcguire, 1968).

Real-life example: Ever notice how a song you initially didn't like starts growing on you after repeated plays on the radio? That's the familiarity principle at work!

This principle doesn't just apply to friends, it's a big deal in advertising and politics too. A study showed that people exposed to beer ads online were more likely to choose a bar gift card over a coffee shop one (Alhabash et al, 2016).