What best describes the impact of mere exposure on interpersonal attraction?

Mere exposure refers to the phenomenon where individuals tend to develop a preference for things merely because they are familiar with them. This idea is well-supported in social psychology and indicates that repeated encounters with a person can increase an individual's liking for that person.

As people are exposed more frequently to someone—through situations like sharing classes, mutual friends, or workplace environments—their familiarity grows, leading to a higher likelihood of positive feelings towards that person. The intuitive notion here is that familiarity breeds comfort and trust, which often translates into increased attraction.

In contrast, increased conflict is generally associated with interactions that involve strong disagreements or negative experiences, rather than with familiarity. A sense of distance implies a lack of closeness or connection, which is the opposite of what mere exposure aims to achieve. Immediate rejection typically occurs with negative impressions or lack of familiarity, contradicting the idea that exposure fosters attraction.

By recognizing that mere exposure can cultivate positive feelings due to familiarity, it becomes clear why this principle enhances interpersonal attraction rather than detracting from it.