Social Behavior and Personality,1994 22 (2), 195-200

The Interplay of Similarity and Self Verification in Relationship Formation*

Thomas E. Joiner Jr (University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, TX, USA)

The notion that similarity between relationship partners may be a means by which one can select a partner who is likely to provide self-confirming feedback was explored. The sample consisted of 335 college roommate pairs, some of whom chose to be roommates, and some of whom were assigned together. Consistent with prediction, students who chose roommates were more similar to and self-verifying with their roommates than were students assigned a roommate. Contrary to prediction, similarity did not account for the association between choice and self-verification.

* Reproduced with permission of Robert A. C. Stewart Editor of Social Behav and Personality