Diversity and Attraction to Similarity (Episode 1)

Theodore Newcomb’s theory of social attraction says that both in the business world and outside of it, we have a tendency of seeking out group members either because they are like us or because they complement our personalities and skills. This attraction was obvious during team selection when we saw Tarek choose two men and Allie choose two women first—maybe a subconscious way of staying within the familiar. After selecting the similar, the contestants left Lee (the youngest contestant), Lenny (the Russian), and Brent (the overweight Canadian) as the final three. It is very possible that Tarek and Allie’s decisions were influenced by their inability to identify with the three, which they perceived as outside the norm. Two of these three contestants ended up being exiled to the blimp.

In contrast, Sean—the contestant from England—was selected by Allie fairly early on. Allie legitimized this pick by describing Sean as a person who is easy to work with and relate to. However, it was clear that she felt comfortable with him, and maybe even physically attracted to him. This attraction does not necessarily carry a sexual overtone, but rather is an attraction to others who fit society’s standards of physical beauty.

Group homogeneity is a paradox in today’s corporate world: it facilitates work, but often does not produce the best results. More importantly, homogeneity is nothing short of impossible, considering today’s diverse and global society. In the episodes ahead, look for how contestants come to terms with each other’s different backgrounds and use them constructively.

(Check out a Google map with the hometowns of all Apprentice contestants.)