One, two, three, sit next to me : Personality and physical distance

Kurzfassung/Abstract

Previous research indicates that personality is associated with interpersonal attraction. The present research aims to extend the current literature on personality and interpersonal attraction by using objective behavioral measures recorded in real social interactions. In the current study, 468 participants (Mage = 31.2, SDage = 14.0) interacted in same-sex dyads at zero acquaintance. At the end of the session, participants were asked to take a seat on a sofa. Analyses revealed that physical distance (defined for each person as how far they sat from their end of the sofa) was significantly associated with perceptions of interpersonal attraction to the interaction partner. Using Actor-Partner-Interdependence Models, we then analyzed the effects of self- and other-reported Big Five traits on physical proximity. Results showed that self-reports of agreeableness and other-judged agreeableness, extraversion, and openness were significantly associated with physical proximity. The present findings highlight the influence of personality on behavioral outcomes of interpersonal attraction.