Interpersonal attraction appears to increase under aversive conditions. Two distinct theories suggest that attraction results from either misattribution or fear reduction. To investigate the effects of misattribution and fear reduction on attraction, 36 male college students were ostensibly exposed to an electromagnetic field while an attractive female confederate recorded their cardiovascular data. Prior to the exposure, subjects were briefed on the apparent threat of the situation (low or high fear) and on the arousal they could expect from the field (low or high arousal). After ostensible exposure to the field, subjects completed a questionnaire assessing their liking for the confederate. An analysis of the results showed that fear had no effect on attraction, while expected arousal from the electromagnetic field did correlate with attraction, supporting the misattribution theory. (BL).

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