The birds-of-a-feather phenomenon depicts people’s natural inclination to be attracted to, befriend and/or try to form relationships with people who possess the same characteristics, be it values, interests, attitudes, backgrounds or personality traits. This phenomenon goes against the notion “opposites attract”. It has been shown time and again that similarity is a strong predictor of interpersonal attraction. Having such commonalities fosters a sense of recognition and affirmation, making communication interactions relatively effortless and enjoyable. For instance, people with the same political or recreational interests form relationships that are easier to maintain. This phenomenon, having been explained in social psychology, is known to work through social reinforcement, confirmation of self-concept, and decreased ambiguity. The birds-of-a-feather phenomenon is salient in friendships, romantic partnerships, and small groups, revealing that the desire for comfort during social situations stems from factors personal to individual.
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