Attitude similarity and interpersonal attraction during early communicative relationships: A research note on the generalizability of findings to opposite‐sex relationships

Past research examining the combined influence of normal initial conversations and attitude similarity on interpersonal attraction has been limited to same‐sex acquaintances. This research note reports on a study which tests (a) the generalizability of these findings to opposite‐sex early acquaintance and (b) the sex combination scope condition of the interpersonal goals perspective. The findings indicate that normal initial conversations between opposite‐sex partners overcome the positive preacquaintance similarity‐attraction association by increasing attraction toward attitudinally dissimilar partners. These findings replicate the outcomes of earlier research on same‐sex partners. The findings are interpreted as strengthening and broadening support for the interpersonal goals perspective on attraction in communicative relationships.