Likability

[MarkyP05]

For want a of a better question title.

Why is it do we like some people and not others and are able talk with some people for ages and then not able to say a word to someone else?

Also why are we not able to control some of our feelings, how ever hard we try?

[andy-hughes]

Because it's what makes us human.

Sophisticated as we are as a species, we still react to unseen, and unknown stimulus on meeting another member of our species. This may be unconcious body language, or even odour, that weclomes us to some, and repels us from others.

Our feelings are things we understand very little - so we are nowhere near being able to control them. That's what makes us the fascinating animals we are, and what motivates and drives our art and culture, so long may we continue as we are.

[theo_wyvern]

also beliefs and the way you are brought up has an awful lot to do with this

eg - when you were a child did you not find you could just talk to someone and when older when you have been shaped you start to find some peoples ideas and thoughts so dissimilar to yours you just can't talk to them !

[snook]

I think it has a lot to do with 'chemistry', which is another way of saying (as andy said) that there are unseen things that we respond to (body language, etc).

I think it might actually be a physical thing, in that we all (for want of a better way of saying it) transmit at a certain frequency. In other words, our brains (which are bio-electrical) give out electrical waves at a predominant frequency, which, if it clashes with another individual's frequency, makes it known to us with a feeling of discomfort. A bit like when you hear someone loud and brash talking and you just feel you don't want to be around them.

And maybe that's why you not only just don't get on with some people, right from the kick-off, but usually you don't know why either.

[boobesque]

My boyfriend suffers with very crippling shyness, he can speak to me about anything and everything and we do often. But when it comes to other people he simply cannot open up, he is okish with my mum now, but he wont phone to make appointments and finds job interviews so hard.

I think it depends on how well you like someone when you first meet.