In social psychology, researchers have long been interested in the factors that influence attraction and relationships between individuals. One widely discussed theory in this domain is the reward theory of attraction, which suggests that people are attracted to those who provide them with the greatest rewards. These rewards can be psychological, emotional, or related to social support.

A group of psychologists conducted a study where they looked at college students' reported feelings of attraction towards classmates after a semester of shared project work. They discovered that participants who perceived their peers as providing them with both emotional support and practical help rated them as more attractive. Based on the findings of the study, which of the following concepts is most directly related to the perceived attractiveness of these individuals?