
Opposites Don’t Attract, Liking What’s Nearby, Last Name History
Learn about why opposites don’t really attract; the “propinquity effect”; and when and why we started using last names.
February 11, 2022
Opposites Don’t Attract by Kelsey Donk
- Johnson, M. D. (2018, February 12). No, opposites do not attract. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/no-opposites-do-not-attract-88839
- Montoya, R. M., & Horton, R. S. (2012). A meta-analytic investigation of the processes underlying the similarity-attraction effect. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 30(1), 64–94. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407512452989
We Like What’s Physically Close to Us by Mae Rice
- New evidence for the “propinquity effect” – mere physical closeness increases our liking of desirable people and things. (2018, August). Research Digest; Research Digest. https://digest.bps.org.uk/2018/08/01/new-evidence-for-the-propinquity-effect-mere-physical-closeness-increases-our-liking-of-desirable-people-and-things/
- Shin, J., Suh, E. M., Li, N. P., Eo, K., Chong, S. C., & Tsai, M.-H. (2018). Darling, Get Closer to Me: Spatial Proximity Amplifies Interpersonal Liking. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 45(2), 300–309. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167218784903
The History of Last Names by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Gregory)
- Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps. (2012). Forebears.Io. https://forebears.io/surnames
- Surnames & The Norman Conquest | Heritage Family History. (2016, September 3). Heritagefamilyhistory.co.uk. https://www.heritagefamilyhistory.co.uk/blog/2016/09/surnames-the-norman-conquest/
- SCMP. (2016, November 17). South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/2046955/complex-origins-chinese-names-demystified
- The Memi De-Shalit Database of Jewish Family Names at Beit Hatfutsot. (2020). Beit Hatfutsot. https://www.bh.org.il/databases/family-names/jewish-family-names-introduction/
- Muraskin, B. (2014, January 8). Jewish Surnames Explained. Slate Magazine; Slate. https://slate.com/human-interest/2014/01/ashkenazi-names-the-etymology-of-the-most-common-jewish-surnames.html
Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Next Up
Curiosity Daily Podcast: Opposites Don’t Attract, We Like What’s Physically Close to Us, and the History of Last Names
Learn about why opposites don’t really attract; the “propinquity effect” and how physical distance affects the way we feel about other people; and the history of when and why we started using last names.
Curiosity Daily Podcast: Do Opposites Really Attract?
Learn about why opposites don’t really attract; the “propinquity effect” and how physical distance affects the way we feel about other people; and the history of when and why we started using last names.
Curiosity Daily Podcast: What Makes Your Brain Happy — and Why You Should Do the Opposite
What your brain wants and what your brain needs aren't always the same. In fact, the shortcuts our brains take can lead to biases and distortions that make us our own worst enemy. Science writer David DiSalvo, author of "What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should Do the Opposite," discusses our brain's shortcomings and how we can identify and conquer them.
Curiosity Daily Podcast: Why Are There Bubbles in my Day-Old Water?
Learn about why bubbles appear in your water overnight; the “other-contingent extravert,” a new type of extravert that’s only outgoing in certain situations; and why food sticks to nonstick pans.
Curiosity Daily Podcast: Is Internet Language Bad? (w/ Gretchen McCulloch) and How to Remember More Dreams
Learn about what you can do to remember more of your dreams. You’ll also learn about the difference between internet language and regular language, in the first edition of our “Hashtag Tuesdays” mini-series with internet linguist Gretchen McCulloch.
Curiosity Daily Podcast: Neural Networks, Why You Get Brain Freeze, and A Science-Based Trick for Learning a New Language
Learn about why you get brain freeze, just how advanced neural networks are these days, and a science-backed trick for learning a new language.
Curiosity Daily Podcast: Resilience Is the Key to Your Well-Being in a Constantly Changing World
It's hard to count on a world that's constantly changing. That's why it's vital to grow internal strengths like grit, gratitude, and compassion — at least, according to Dr. Rick Hanson, a Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley and author of "Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness." In this episode, he discusses the key to resilience, and to lasting well-being in a changing world.
Curiosity Daily Podcast: How to Look Good in Photos, Trojan Asteroids, and a Technique to Avoid Stress and Stay Calm
Learn why the camera adds 10 pounds (and what you can do about it); why asteroids called Trojans could change what we know about the origins of our solar system; and a technique to help you avoid stress and stay calm.
Curiosity Daily Podcast: AI Translating Babies’ Cries, Being Suckered by the Barnum Effect, and City of Lies and Truth
Learn about how scientists are using artificial intelligence to translate babies’ cries; test your skills with the City of Lies and Truth logic puzzle; and learn how to avoid falling prey to a common psychological phenomenon called the Barnum effect.
Curiosity Daily Podcast: Belief Superiority, Why Days Are Getting Longer, and Mr. Rogers’ Checklist
In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: