Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The proximity effect refers to the tendency for individuals to feel more attracted to and form relationships with people who are physically close to them.
Related terms
Mere Exposure Effect: This term refers to the phenomenon where we tend to develop a preference for things or people that we are exposed to frequently.
Familiarity describes our comfort level and positive feelings towards people or things that we encounter regularly.
Functional Distance: Functional distance refers to how often people cross paths in their daily lives due to factors such as living in close proximity or working in the same building.