Ricka Marie D.

Septimo Social Psychology

PSY181 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

REFLECTION: ATTRACTION
We tend to say, “Sana all” when we see people who are in a successful,
long-term relationship with their significant other. WE then wondered how these
couples’ relationship last for such a long period of time? Is there any secret
behind a long-lasting relationship?
We have interviewed a couple who has been married for 34 years now.
We were grateful that Nanay Helen allowed us to share her and her husband’s
love story to us. In the interview, we observed how proximity played a role in
their initial attraction with each other. According to her, they were both co-
workers who are also living in the same neighborhood. The fact that they were
both repeatedly exposed to each other at work and at the same neighborhood
increased the chance of attraction. This was shown when they both become
friends at the end and tatay started to fell in love with Helen. Nanay Helen
implied that she did not like tatay before because he already have five children of
his own. Mere exposure effect is also present as they encounter each other
repeatedly as seen when tatay did not stop in showing her love to her, even
picking her up at work always and nanay sending foods in his house before.
Furthermore, it should be pointed out how their close proximity enables them to
interact more and become more familiar with each other which breeds
anticipation of interaction. Even though nanay dislike having an intimate
relationship with tatay, their interaction produces likeability with each other and
in the end resulted in a now rewarding relationship.
“Similarity breeds content” is seemingly not present in the case of the two
married couples. Nanay Helen shared how she and tatay are very much different
with each other in some ways. “Opposite attracts” is defined more in their
relationship. Nanay has a strong and confident personality whereas tatay was
described by nanay as a kind and quiet person. Even though, nanay is attracted to
the how a good person tatay is, describing him as the kindest, hardworking man
she had ever met. It proves how they were so different yet are attracted to each
other due to the likeable factor they see to each other.
It was unfortunate that we cannot interview Nanay Helen’s husband due to
his speech problem. Nevertheless, I learned how there is no such thing as a secret
ingredient when it comes to having a long-term relationship. Indeed, initial
attraction can be due to proximity, familiarity, physical attractiveness, or all these
factors. But, as Nanay Helen talked about how they shared their struggles together
and how she never let go of tatay no matter what happens, just states that trust,
patience, perseverance and being there for each other through thick and thin are
significant part of a relationship.