{"id":1543,"date":"2022-12-21T08:56:55","date_gmt":"2022-12-21T08:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mpelembe.net\/?p=1543"},"modified":"2022-12-21T08:56:55","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T08:56:55","slug":"christmas-films-there-might-be-some-truth-to-stories-about-hometown-romances-according-to-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mpelembe.net\/index.php\/christmas-films-there-might-be-some-truth-to-stories-about-hometown-romances-according-to-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas films: there might be some truth to stories about hometown romances, according to\u00a0research"},"content":{"rendered":"

Viren Swami<\/a>, Anglia Ruskin University<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The festive season seems to be a good time for love, or so many Christmas films would have us believe. One incredibly popular trope is \u201cthe return<\/a>\u201d \u2013 where the main character, usually with a successful career in the city, returns to their hometown for the festive period.<\/p>\n

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In their rustic homely surroundings, they come to realise that their life as a singleton in the city has been a sham, fall in love with some kind-hearted local hero or an old flame, et voil\u00e0<\/em> \u2013 we have the magic of Christmas!<\/p>\n

While certainly clich\u00e9d, the trope of \u201cthe return\u201d may actually be based on a kernel of truth. Psychologists have long known<\/a> that a powerful spark of attraction and romance is familiarity. In contrast to the commonsense idea that familiarity breeds contempt, familiarity actually breeds liking.<\/p>\n

So if you, like these cinematic heroes and heroines, are looking for love in your hometown this Christmas, here is the evidence that might help you with your search.<\/p>\n

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This article is part of Quarter Life<\/a><\/strong>, a series about issues affecting those of us in our twenties and thirties. From the challenges of beginning a career and taking care of our mental health, to the excitement of starting a family, adopting a pet or just making friends as an adult. The articles in this series explore the questions and bring answers as we navigate this turbulent period of life.<\/em><\/p>\n

You may be interested in:<\/em><\/p>\n

Five dating tips from the Georgian era<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Workplace romance: four questions to ask yourself before dating someone from the office<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Online dating fatigue \u2013 why some people are turning to face-to-face apps first<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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The allure of the familiar<\/h2>\n

In one classic American study<\/a>, researchers had four women attend university classes in different frequencies. One never went to class, another attended five classes, the third attended ten, and the fourth attended class 15 times over a semester.<\/p>\n

At the end of the semester, it was found that the more classes the women attended, the more other students liked them and wanted to spend time with them. Familiar faces are not only liked more<\/a>, they are also more likely to make us smile<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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