Awkward Attraction.
The days of actual music videos of being on MTV are long gone, and the air time is filled with babies having babies, and a show dedicated solely to watching people get hurt in YouTube videos a rare diamond has come out of the rough. That would be in the show "Awkward." In this TV show we see loser girl Jenna fall in love with the school stud, Matty. This is an earthquake to the high school world, and everyone finds not only their popularity status, but relationship status well, all shook up. So, what is that makes Jenna attracted to Matty, and more importantly what is that intrigues Matty to date within the lower ranks.
Jenna <3's Matty
First lets look at Matty, and why Jenna would be attracted to him (11). Using Kelley's Four Components to Understanding Attraction, this odd couple becomes easier to understand (11). First of these components is the "Reward Value," meaning what does Jenna get from this relationship with Matty. The reward value is very high on Jenna's end, she gets a very attractive male, with a high social status. Generally, those who are more attractive are also more likely to be more successful which is another benefit for Jenna. This is called the "halo effect" which, "leads people to believe that physically attractive individuals are more like to succeed, and are more sociable, popular, intelligent and competent" (12).
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Second on this list is expectations. This refers to how we expect people to behave. In the beginning, Jenna expects Matty to be the dumb football player, who only has eyes for the it girls. Instead, she finds a sensitive guy, who only has eyes for her. Since this is not what Jenna expects, her attraction Matty increases.
Third is usual/unusual. Matty's behavior is unusual from the stereotype he conforms to in the public eye, and he still accepts Jenna even though this does not fit in his norm. This makes Matty more attractive to Jenna.
The last of these four is expectations. People's expectations often become reality, and when these expectations meet reality someone becomes more attractive. Jenna expects Matty to be a dumb football jock, who only has eyes for blonde hair and big boobs. In this case, Matty not meeting this reality is what makes him more attractive to Jenna.
The last of these four is expectations. People's expectations often become reality, and when these expectations meet reality someone becomes more attractive. Jenna expects Matty to be a dumb football jock, who only has eyes for blonde hair and big boobs. In this case, Matty not meeting this reality is what makes him more attractive to Jenna.
Matty <3's Jenna
So, why does this football stud find himself falling head over heels for the less than it girl? Looking at Matty's social network can explain this. "Attitudes of members of our social circle, known as subjective norms, are the strongest predictor of our own attitudes and intentions" (13). This mean that friends tend to find the same people or similar looking people attractive, Matty and his best friend Jake are a prime example of this. Jenna, Jake, and Matty all find themselves in a love triangle when attraction runs rampant between the three. This is an example of this Social Network playing out.
But looking into this further using the same four categories as with Jenna's interest in Matty, this passion can be explained. The reward for Matty is that with Jenna he does not have to play into the stereotype which is what his friends have come to know from him. If he were to change this attitude with his friends, the foundation their friendship was built on will be altered. Jenna likes Matty for who he truly is, therefore he can show this to Jenna, which is his reward.
Next, expectations. Matty does not know what to expect from Jenna. This ties into the third category of usual/unusual. Because of this, in combination of acceptance, Jenna becomes more attractive to Matty.
Last, is expectations. Jenna not only meets Matty's expectations of not holding him to the standard of the stereotype he lives in with his friends, but also does not like it when he does. Since Matty can not only be himself but is expected to be himself with her, Jenna becomes more attractive to Matty.
Overall, this crazy world of high school hormones is a hard one to explain. Who is dating whom, who made out with whom, and who is hooking up are all very complicated, but important parts of this world. Looking at this attraction with a few theories for guidance, this complex world of relationships gets a little easier to explain.
But looking into this further using the same four categories as with Jenna's interest in Matty, this passion can be explained. The reward for Matty is that with Jenna he does not have to play into the stereotype which is what his friends have come to know from him. If he were to change this attitude with his friends, the foundation their friendship was built on will be altered. Jenna likes Matty for who he truly is, therefore he can show this to Jenna, which is his reward.
Next, expectations. Matty does not know what to expect from Jenna. This ties into the third category of usual/unusual. Because of this, in combination of acceptance, Jenna becomes more attractive to Matty.
Last, is expectations. Jenna not only meets Matty's expectations of not holding him to the standard of the stereotype he lives in with his friends, but also does not like it when he does. Since Matty can not only be himself but is expected to be himself with her, Jenna becomes more attractive to Matty.
Overall, this crazy world of high school hormones is a hard one to explain. Who is dating whom, who made out with whom, and who is hooking up are all very complicated, but important parts of this world. Looking at this attraction with a few theories for guidance, this complex world of relationships gets a little easier to explain.
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