Several Theories and Research Results related to attraction and liking.

1. Transference Effect

Transference describes a situation where the feelings, desires, and expectations

of one person are redirected and applied to another person. Most commonly,
transference refers to a therapeutic setting, where a person in therapy may apply
certain feelings or emotions toward the therapist.

2. Propinquity Effect

The propinquity effect is the tendency for people to form friendships or romantic
relationships with those whom they encounter often, forming a bond between
subject and friend. Workplace interactions are frequent and this frequent
interaction is often a key indicator as to why close relationships can readily form
in this type of environment. In other words, relationships tend to form between
those who have a high propinquity.

3. Similarity
We often like people who we have similarities with such as social class
background, religious beliefs, age, and education. We are often attracted to like-
minded persons and those who have similar beliefs and values as ours, because
the similarity is a validation of our innermost values and belief system, and who
we are as a person.

4. Reciprocity
In social psychology, reciprocity is a social rule that says people ought to repay,
in kind, what another person has provided for them; that is, people give back
(reciprocate) the kind of treatment they have received from another. By virtue of
the rule of reciprocity, people are obligated to repay favors, gifts, invitations, etc.
in the future. If someone receives a gift for their birthday, a reciprocal expectation
may influence them to do the same on the gift-givers birthday. This sense of
future obligation associated with reciprocity makes it possible to build continuing
relationships and exchanges. Reciprocal actions of this nature are important to
social psychology as they can help explain the maintenance of social norms.

5. Personality Characteristics and Traits

Our personality is defined as a set of traits that can explain or predict a person’s
behavior in a variety of situations. In other words, personality is a set of
characteristics that reflect the way we think and act in a given situation. Because
of this, our personality has a lot to do with how we relate to one another at work.
Personality also affects our ability to interact with others, which can impact our
career success.

References:
https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/transference
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propinquity
https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_human-relations/s05-02-human-relations-
personality-an.html