“Playing Hard to Get”: Understanding an Elusive Phenomenon
Walster, Walster, Piliavin & Schmidt (1973) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 26(1)
We use this paper in 2 places in the academy · 1 stated limit
What other researchers dispute
Many people believe that playing hard to get makes you more attractive. The authors of this paper ran five experiments and found no effect. Their sixth experiment found an effect, but only for one specific version of the idea. The popular claim is much wider than the result.
What the study found
Five experiments in a row failed to show that a person who is hard to get with everyone is valued more than a person who is easy to get.
The person who was easy for the participant to get but hard for others was preferred over people who were hard for everyone, easy for everyone, or unknown.
What the study cannot prove
The study is from 1973, used university students, and was written about men judging women. We trust the direction of the result, not its cultural assumptions.
Where we use it
We use this paper in 2 places in the academy. If the paper turned out to be wrong, we would have to change everything in this list.
Other papers used in the same places
These papers are used in the same topics and videos as this one. That does not mean the papers agree with each other. It only means that the same exercises use both.
Anticipation and the Valuation of Delayed Consumption
Loewenstein (1987)The Psychology of Curiosity: A Review and Reinterpretation
Loewenstein (1994)Research
A real study. We tell you what it found, how many people were in it, and what it can't prove.
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