Moreland, R. L., & Zajonc, R. B. (1982). Exposure effects in person perception: Familiarity, similarity, and attraction. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 18(5), 395-415.

Authors report two experiments with 192 undergraduates explored the relationship between familiarity, similarity, and attraction. Results showed that participants regarded familiar people as more similar to themselves and more likeable. The effects of familiarity were largely mediated by changes in attraction. Participants regarded people who seemed similar to them as more familiar more likeable. The changes in attraction entirely mediated the impacts of similarity on perceived familiarity.