The mere exposure effect suggests that...

The mere exposure effect indicates that people tend to develop a preference for things merely because they are familiar with them. This psychological phenomenon suggests that repeated exposure to a stimulus increases an individual's liking for that stimulus. As a result, familiarity can lead to positive feelings or fondness toward people, objects, or ideas that are encountered repeatedly.

In the context of social psychology, the mere exposure effect highlights how our interactions and experiences shape our preferences. When we see something or someone more frequently, we are more likely to view them positively, which can have implications in various fields, such as marketing, interpersonal relationships, and social dynamics. Therefore, the understanding of this effect is crucial in predicting human behavior in social settings.