attraction - physical attractiveness - matching hypothesis & halo effect

Question 1

AO1 - what does the research suggest about what makes someone attractive

Answer 1

• Shackleford & Larson (1997) - symetrical faces are more attractive as they have an honest set of genetic fitness
• neotenous faces (baby faces) with widely separated large eyes, a small chin and nose deemed to be attractive as it triggers a caring instinct

Question 2

AO1 - what is the halo effect

Answer 2

• a type of cognitive bias where by our perception of someone is positively influenced by our opinions of that person’s other related traits

Question 3

AO1 - what is the attractiveness stereotype

Answer 3

• Dion et al. (1972) physically attractive people are consistently rated as kind, strong, sociable and successful
  –> the stereotype is also culturally pervasive

Question 4

AO1 - what is the matching hypothesis

Answer 4

• people are more likely to form a committed relationship with someone equally attractive or the same level of social desirability
• theory suggests that people assess their own value and then make ‘realistic choices’ by selecting the best available potential partners who are also likely to share the same level of attractiveness

Question 5

AO1 - KEY STUDY: Walster et al (1966)

Answer 5

• matching hypothesis
• advertised a ‘computer dance’ for new students at Uni of Minnesota
  -376 males and females randomly selected
• when picking up their tickets 4 student accomplices surreptitiously rated each ppt for physical attractiveness
• ppts asked a lengthy questionnaire
• during the dance the ppts asked to complete a questionnaire on their date with a follow up questionnaire distributed 6 months after the dance

Question 6

AO3 - support for the matching hypothesis
Feingold (1988)

Answer 6

• conducted a meta analysis of 17 studies
• found a strong correlation between partner’s ratings of attractiveness
• shows people tend to choose a partner who has similar levels of physical attraction to themselves

Question 7

AO3 - Merstein (1972)

Answer 7

• asked dating couples to rate themselves in terms of physical attractiveness, and asked independent judges to rate them
• found that real partners were more similar in terms of physical attractiveness tan random pairs
• Silverman (1971) confirmed these findings in a field study, noting that the greater the degree of physical attractiveness the more physical intimacy was displayed

Question 8

AO3 - support for the halo effect

Answer 8

• Walster failed to confirm the matching hypothesis
• may have been due to the measure of attractiveness was unreliable
• more likely is that the design, had reassured ppts they had been ‘matched’ by computer, this would give false confidence in asking ‘out of your league’ dates

Question 9

AO3 - Taylor et al (2011)

Answer 9

• investigated the activity log on a dating website and found that website users were more likely to try and arrange a meeting with a potential partner who was physically more attractive than them

Question 10

AO3: contradictions to the importance of physical attractiveness in relationships
Touhey (1979)

Answer 10

• gave ppts photos of strangers and some biographical information about them
• asked to rate them
• found physical attraction was more important for ppts who displayed sexist attitudes
• suggests physical appearance may or may not be significant factor in attractiveness whilst the matching hypothesis suggests it is always the main one
• significant individual differences and nomothetic explanations may not be appropriate

Question 11

AO3: gender bias - Meltzer et al (2014)

Answer 11

• found that men rate their long-term relationships more satisfying if their partner is physically attractive
• while for women their partners attractiveness did not have a significant impact on relationship satisfaction
• explanations based on an idiographic approach without trying to generate universal rules may be more appropriate

Question 12

AO3: alternative explanations

Answer 12

• when choosing long-term partners, people tend to focus more on similarity of values and needs satisfaction
• questions the validity of the matching hypothesis as only describes a limited number of relationships
• ignores the fact people may compensate for the lack of attractiveness with other qualities
• this compensation explains why older, less attractive men being married to younger, attractive women