Coming to Like Obnoxious People When We Must Live with Them

The pattern of individual affective accommodation to no-choice relationships with others was examined in two experimental studies on the effects of anticipated interaction. From Heider's concept of unit-sentiment balance it was predicted that the anticipation of no-choice interaction with other individuals would lead to increased liking for individuals who initially had ambiguous or dislikable characteristics, but not for those who were initially likable. This pattern of accommodation was tested in two studies in which female subjects indicated liking for likable, ambiguous, or dislikable individuals with whom they anticipated interaction. In Experiment 1, information about the person with whom interaction was anticipated was presented in written form, while in Experiment 2 individuals actually interacted with the stimulus person prior to indicating their impression of her. In both studies the balance-predicted pattern of accommodation was found: Anticipated interaction increased liking for initially dislikable or ambiguous people, but not for those who were initially likable.