Final answer:
Proximity, or regular contact, is the most influential factor in forming friendships and romantic relationships among U.S. college students. People are more likely to be friends with those they have frequent contact with, such as dorm mates or neighbors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Recent research on social distance among U.S. college students shows that proximity, or regular contact, is the most influential factor in forming friendships and romantic relationships. People are more likely to be friends with those they have frequent contact with, such as dorm mates or neighbors. This is supported by decades of research that demonstrate the ease of forming relationships with people who are nearby.
For example, Festinger, Schachter, & Back (1950) found that people are more likely to become friends with those who live in their dorm, apartment building, or immediate neighborhood compared to those who live farther away. This is because regular contact provides the opportunity to get to know each other.
Therefore, it is clear that proximity is the most influential factor in determining with whom college students become friends and form romantic relationships.