What Are the Laws of Attraction?
The laws of attraction have their origins in the science of matter. The original definition was an assumed set of rules that defined the phenomenon whereby certain objects have the tendency to bond. Throughout the history of science, a dozen or more laws of attraction have been developed.
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History
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In approximately 390 B.C., Plato theorized what came to be known as the first law of attraction, or "likes tend toward likes": likes attract, while opposites repel.
Chemical Laws of Attraction
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In 1250, Albertus Magnus applied the concept to chemical relationships and developed what came to be known as the four laws of attraction: like elements attract like elements; all things have primary qualities, but are able to acquire secondary or tertiary qualities by association; qualities may inherently belong to an entire species or just to an individual object; and objects repel those with opposite qualities.
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Laws of Attraction in Physics
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James Clerk Maxwell then applied the laws of attraction and repulsion to the physics of electromagnetic fields in 1873. With the discovery of sub-atomic particles and the concept of field particle exchange in the mid-20th century, the laws of attraction were replaced in physics by the laws of quantum chemistry and chemical thermodynamics.
Human Laws of Attraction
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In the mid 20th century, social scientists began to apply Plato's first law of attraction (that "likes attract") to human relationships, citing that people tend to gravitate to those with similar socioeconomic backgrounds, religious beliefs and educational background. Conversely, sociologist Robert F. Winch hypothesized the viewpoint that "opposites attract."
Laws of Attraction in the New Thought Movement
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The New Thought spiritual movement began to share a set of metaphysical beliefs concerning the law of attraction that espoused the effects of positive thinking, creative visualization and personal power. This interpretation was based on the principles of "meaningful coincidence" and synchronicity, terms coined by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung in 1951.
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