Sample Speech Outline

Topic: Interpersonal Attraction

Specific Purpose: After my speech, I want my audience to understand some of the factors that influence interpersonal attraction.

Thesis: There are many factors that influence attraction without our awareness.

Introduction

·       (Attention Getter) Did you know that people who are considered to be more attractive will earn more money and are seen as more credible than less attractive people?

·       (Thesis): There are many factors that influence attraction without our awareness

·       (Relevance): You should be interested in this topic because it has quite a large effect in all of our lives and can even contribute to your overall happiness.

·        (Credibility): After taking a course in close personal relationships and some research, I would like to explain how these factors can deeply affect you and to whom you are attracted.

·       (Preview): First, I want to tell how proximity and similarity influence to whom we become attracted. Then I will tell you how being seen as attractive has certain benefits in society.

Transition: First, let’s talk about proximity.

Body

I.       Proximity has a strong influence on attraction.

1.     Festinger, 1951 reported that a couples location in an apartment building influenced who they became friends with and how many friends they had.

2.     Close proximity can also have a negative affect, called “environmental spoiling” (Ebbeson, Kjos, & Konecni, 1976).

3.     Storms and Thomas, 1977 report that proximity in personal space can also amplify feelings of liking or disliking.

Transition: Not only is proximity a strong influence, similarity is important as well.

II.               Similarity has a strong influence on attraction.

1. According to Brehm, 1992, personality similarity and cognitive similarity      where positively related to marital success and satisfaction.

2. Physical attractiveness similarity was consistent among couples.

3. There were different ratings done of personality and physical attractiveness.

Transition: Now that we understand how proximity and similarity influence attraction, let’s look at how attractiveness influences people’s opinions.

III.             Research shows that people who are rated as more attractive enjoy certain benefits in society.

1.     They are seen as more honest, more capable and more reliable than those who are rated as unattractive (Festinger, 1951).

2.     They often earn more money over their lifetime.

3.     They tend to be happier and have longer marriages (Brehm, 1992).

Transition: To wrap up how attraction and interpersonal relationships are influenced by one another I would like to leave you with these thoughts.

Conclusion

• (Summarize Main Points) In particular, proximity and similarity can strongly affect how and to whom we are attracted.
• (Summarize Thesis) Some of the factors that influence our attraction can occur without our knowing it.
•  (Closing Statement) I hope this speech has given you some things to think about as you examine your own attractions and relationships.

References

Brehm, S. (1992).  Intimate relationships. (2^nd Ed.). Mc-Graw hill: New York.

Ebbeson, E. B., Kjos, G. L.,  & Konecni, V. J.  (1976). Spatial ecology: It’s effects on the

            choice of friends and enemies. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 12,

            508-518.

Festinger, L. (1951). Architecture and group membership. Journal of Social Issues, 7,

            152.163.