呢個理論係基於距離摩擦嘅概念，即「距離本身阻住咗地點之間嘅相互作用。兩個地方相距越遠，障礙或成本就越大」 。例如，同行路去街坊嘅士多買三文治相比，人們冇乜理由穿過成個城鎮去買一樣嘅三文治。呢個例子中，障礙或成本可以攞時間（時間量同時間值）、交通成本同埋個人肌肉能量損失嚟計，呢啲都要加埋到買三文治嘅價錢裏便，令到摩擦比較高。距離嘅摩擦同成本嘅增加共同導致咗距離衰減效應。
This theory is based on the concept of distance friction, which states that "distance itself hinders the interaction between places." The farther apart the two places, the greater the obstacle or cost." For example, there is little reason for people to walk across town to buy the same sandwich than to go to the neighbor's grocery store on the same road. In this example, the obstacle or cost can be calculated in terms of time (amount and value of time), transportation costs, and loss of energy in individual muscles, all of which are added to the price of the sandwich to make the friction higher. The friction of distance and the increase in cost together lead to the distance attenuation effect.