concepts
type: Collection
type: ConceptGroup
member: matching hypothesis

creating and maintaining closeness
type: Concept
narrower: matching hypothesis

dating, courtship, and marriage
type: Concept
narrower: matching hypothesis

interpersonal relationships
type: Concept
narrower: matching hypothesis

matching hypothesis
type: Concept
broader: theoretical approaches to studying relationships
broader: social cognition
broader: interpersonal relationships
broader: dating, courtship, and marriage
broader: creating and maintaining closeness
definition: A quick glance at couples in public settings will likely lead to the observation that people in a variety of cultures tend to pair up with those who are similar in physical attractiveness. The handsome man and the gorgeous woman date and marry each other, and their more homely counterparts pair up with their plainer counterparts. [Source: Encyclopedia of Human Relationships; Matching Hypothesis]

social cognition
type: Concept
narrower: matching hypothesis

theoretical approaches to studying relationships
type: Concept
narrower: matching hypothesis