Coming to like obnoxious people when we must live with them.

The pattern of individual affective accommodation to no-choice relationships with others was examined in two experimental studies on the effects of anticipated interaction. From Heiders concept of unit-sentiment balance it was predicted that the anticipation of no-choice interaction with other individuals would lead to increased liking for individuals who initially had ambiguous or dislikable characteristics, but not for those who were initially likable. This pattern of accommodation was tested in two studies in which female subjects indicated liking for likable, ambiguous, or dislikable individuals with whom they anticipated interaction. In Experiment 1, information about the person with whom interaction was anticipated was presented in written form, while in Experiment 2 individuals actually interacted with the stimulus person prior to indicating their impression of her. In both studies the balance-predicted pattern of accommodation was found: Anticipated interaction increased liking for initially dislikable or ambiguous people, but not for those who were initially likable. Each of our lives is filled with people with whom we may not choose to relate, but to whom we nevertheless must accommodate. This process of adjustment begins with our early relationships to parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and grandparents and continues in a series of later relationships with teachers, classmates, co-workers, supervisors, and inlaws. In fact, life involves a long and unending progression of relationships about which a This study was supported by National Science