Tee hee. I'd better drop my xanga. I'll write the fiction from my mind in livejournal (as I know they don't actually censor each entry so I can write for-adults-only stories and publish it there) and write the more wholesome daily writing here in blogger. Sounds like a good plan to me.
Okay, behold the part 2s:
The Determinants of Liking, Part 2
Familiarity
Yes, the closer you get, the more you get attracted to someone. Or so it says in the book. One of the major reasons that proximity creates liking is that it increases familiarity, and familiarity by itself ---sheer exposure --- increases liking. This is quite a phenomenon, the familiarity breeds liking thing. Studies show that the more frequently they see a particular face, the more they said they liked it and thought they would like to see more of the person. Hurray! Put your face infront of your crush from now on, everyday, if you can manage it.
The moral is clear. If you are not beautiful or you find your admiration of someone unreciprocated, be persistent and hang around. Proximity and familiarity are your most powerful weapons. --- That is a direct quote from the book ladies and gents. I wonder if I would make a good stalker? Hmmm....
Similarity
There is an old saying that 'opposites attract' and lovers are fond of recounting how different they are from each other. The old saying is mostly false. "I love boating and she prefers mountain climbing", "I'm in engineering and she's a history major", but they overlook the fact that they both like the outdoors, or that they are both professionals. Usually, studies say that similarities in religion, social class, educational level and probably within 3 years of each other in age, and within 5 IQ points of intelligence are the most common amoung couples.
But here's something that I found hopeful. It has also been found that most of us end up with someone who are as attractive as we are. Weee! (But I think that partner for me is already taken. Damn!) This is because to put it bluntly, less attractive people seek less attractive partners because they are afraid that more attractive people will reject them. Hah, there goes the explanation for my lack of suitors. Come on, I'm friendly, they don't need to be afraid. Hehe, but I know of less attractive people who think they are God's gift to women (Gah! God wouldn't be so cruel!) and only wants to be with very, very attractive women! Clueless men, I tell you. Very ambitious too.
One reason that similarity produces liking is probably that people value their own opinions and preferences and enjoy being with someone who validates their choices, therefore boosting their self-esteem. Like I would want somebody I can talk to about life and all its nonsense, not nonsense all the time.
Despite all this, the saying that opposites attract may still apply to complementary traits. Like I am bossy and talkative, so I would go well with someone who's a great listener and usually indulges me. But even then, there are certain similarities underlying those complementary traits.
Ah...I'm tired talking about all these. Even knowing all of these, I still don't have anyone. Maybe I'd better start acting on it. Be a stalker. Or always hang around engineering colleges and attend scientific seminars (I like to be with a scientist or an engineer...I don't know why, maybe because I'm totally unscientific and know zilch about math). Anyway, hope it's useful to some of you.
- Source: Introduction to Psychology, Atkinson, Atkinson, et al.
Silver Lining
I. con't...
"Ah, hi, Ryan." followed by frantic scrambling of keys to put in her bag and looking at her well-worn shoes. Damn! Why can't she have ultra feminine, soft-looking feet? She can feel his gaze traveling up and down, as if assessing her, looking her over, of what changes have happened for the last 8 years or so.
"You going to the reunion?" he asked, voice still croaking, like you wanted to say 'ahem' and help him get rid of that 'pesteng ahem' but it's really his natural voice.
"Yeah. yeah. " she answered briefly, not knowing what else to say.
"Okay, I'm walking there too." and he fell into step beside me.
Oh goodness. The one person she's anxious to see in this reunion and they are walking together towards the building. Great. Just my luck, she thought. She has changed into 5 outfits before finally deciding on this one, a white v-neck, fitted blouse, denim jeans, and black sandals. Yes, 5 outfits, before this very plain, very boring, CAT-inspired outfit. She wanted to rub her hands together to get rid of the cold, nervous sweaty feel, but she couldn't. She has to act cool and collected. That's what she always was.
"Ah, where you working now?" he asked, seemingly wanting to make small talk.
Great. "Hm, I'm not working, I just passed the teachers' board exams and it's just hard to get a teaching job mid-school year." she explained, quelching her need to expound and expound and tell her whole life story. Good thing too, because she doesn't really have anything much to say.
Finally, they reached the building, and she saw Jass and Jerry and her other friends, who all are sporting the looks of a goldfish, mouths forming 'O's and eyes wide with disbelief.
They stopped for one awkward moment, near her friends, but still far enough not to be overheard. And just stared at their feet for two uncomfortable seconds.
"Well, I'll see you later, or around...later. Oh you know what I mean. I'll just be here." Gah! How senile and stupid did that sound? She mentally kicked herself in the ass.
"Oh, okay. I'll come see you later. Be looking for you." He said, and she thought it was so nice of him to say something like that, when she knows he'll be too busy getting in touch with so many people. He was an icon in their college, for heaven's sake.
"Yeah, yeah."
She turned to walk towards her friends when she felt him briefly touch her in the arm. She turned to him, lifting her eyebrows in inquiry.
He just smiled, and said, a little bit shyly, "By the way, Elaine, you look really good."
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That's it. I'll continue this in my livejournal. Maybe next year. He he. By the way, this is a figment of my imagination. Not true. No basis in reality. You have to believe me. And this is not wishful thinking either. Yes, this is just fiction. FICTION. Really.
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