The more frequently people are exposed to something, the more they tend to prefer it.
A few common examples:
How Does the Mere Exposure Effect Relate to Attraction?
The mere exposure effect can impactwho you are attracted to.
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Simply by spending more time with someone, the more attractive you may find them.
People can also use this to their advantage if they want the object of their affection to notice them.
It takes place automatically andunconsciously.
Because we are familiar with the things we have been exposed to, they seem less threatening and anxiety-provoking.
The more people are exposed to something, the more they realize that it does not pose a threat.
We only have so many cognitive andattentional resourcesto make sense of the things in our environment.
Sticking with what is familiar frees up our resources so we can shift our focus elsewhere.
Researchers have found thattuning in to reruns of a favorite tv showcan be a great way to soothe stress.
Is the Mere Exposure Effect Bad?
The mere exposure effect can be both good and bad.
However, it can also cause people to miss out on opportunities and information.
Understanding how mere exposure works can help give greater insight into how it can shape your preferences anddecision-making processes.
In Relationships
The mere exposure effect can have a powerful influence on how we feel about others.
In some cases, the mere exposure effect can play a part in friendships turning into romantic relationships.
In romantic relationships, this effect can play a part in deepening feelings ofintimacy.
At Work
The mere exposure effect can also shape the attitudes and perceptions of co-workers and employers.
Merely by being exposed to it, your feelings about it changed.
For example, imagine that you are trying to decide between two similar options when buying a new car.
One study found that exposure that is spaced out over time produces greater liking than sudden, all-at-once exposure.
At first, repeated listening seems to reinforce your love for the song.
You know the lyrics now.
you’re free to sing along in your car on the way to work.
Derrick JL.Energized by television: Familiar fictional worlds restore self-control.Social Psychological and Personality Science.
2021;9(1):25. doi:10.1186/s40359-021-00531-8
Bornstein RF, Kale AR, Cornell KR.
Boredom as a limiting condition on the mere exposure effect.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
1990;58(5):791-800. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.58.5.791
