People's feelings toward a potential partner are dependent on their perception of rewards and costs, the kind of relationships they deserve, and their likelihood for having a healthier relationship with someone else. Rewards are the part of a relationship that makes it worthwhile and enjoyable. A cost is something that can cause irritation like a friend overstaying his welcome. Comparison level is also taken into account during a relationship. This suggests that people expect rewards or costs depending on the time invested in the relationship. If the level of expected rewards are minimal and the level of costs is high, the relationship suffers and both parties may become dissatisfied and unhappy. Lastly, the comparison of alternatives means that satisfaction is conditional on the chance that a person could replace the relationship with a more desirable one.

आकर्षण = romantic relationship
Similarity in different aspects वेगवेगळ्या बाबतीतील सारखेपणा
सामाजिक अभिसरण सिद्धांतSocial exchange theory
सारखेपणा किंवा पूरकतेचे आंतरव्यक्ति आकर्षणावरील परिणाम Effects of similarity on interpersonal attraction