Ch 10 attraction and intimacy: liking and loving others Flashcards
The importance of intimate relationships (hint 6 ideas)
1) Positive satisfying relationships equals good health outcome
2) Social support
3) Capitalization - When something good happens we take greater joy in this positive outcome if we can share it with close others
4) Michelangelo effect - We actually become more like our partner’s ideas views of ourselves
5) Goal pursuit - Close romantic relationships can allow us to pursue our goals more effectively
6) Self-expansion - By having a close partnership we can come to grow as people learn new things about the world and new hobbies based on our friend
What factors influence our choice of close friends and partners? (hint 3)
1) Proximity
2) Physical attractiveness
3) Perceived similarity
Physical Attractiveness benefits
Compared to people who are less attractive
-Physically attractive people are more likely to:
Mary, re-marry, Does not mean Marital Satisfaction
Achieve good grades, PrestigiousOccupations
AttainPrestigious occupations
Lighter sentences for crimes
Why might these be true (Physical Attractiveness benefits) - beauty bias (hint 3 answers)
1) Halo Effect - People who are physically attractive are seen as more moral kinder nicer smarter
2) History of positive social interactions - It could be that people are nicer to people who are physically attractive and in turn develop social skills
3) or both - We have positive expectations of people who are attractive and pretend to be more biased and make the assumption that they are more positive and less attractive individuals or Been physically attractive associated with actual changes because the world kinder more inviting place when you’re physically attractive
What influences physical attractiveness (hint 4 answers)
1) Baby Facedness
2) Facial Symmetry
3) Culture
4) clear complexion, fair skin
Baby Facedness
- It has been shown, especially for females, Beautiful faces have proportions similar to children who were about six or seven
- Having large eyes, small nose, Filled Lips, prominent jaw structure, Cheekbones, Symbolizes sexual maturity has seen to be very attractive across cultures
- It is unclear why there is a preference for a Babyface feature
- It might be due to the evolutionary perspective for men, one thing that men are looking for is youth because youth signifies fertility
- among men, There is less evidence of that baby face the facts, Large eyes are seen as attractive and men, however, a large chin, Prominent cheekbones, Jawline seen as attractive in men, As well as height
Facial symmetry
Seeing a physically attractive and evolutionary perspective is linked to fertility because asymmetrical faces and bodies can be seen as toxins during fetal development
Clear complexion
Seen as an attractive and evolutionary perspective would state clear skin signifies health which in turn signifies fertility
Different Cultures
-There is little variation in terms of what is viewed as attractive in Independent cultures - People more physically attractive are seems to be very strong
Interdependent cultures - People more physically attractive are seen as being modest and honest
Body Weight Preferences across 26 countries by Swami 2010
- People were shown This image and ask to pick Which body type was the most attractive and then filled out a number of questionnaires
- At the gender and cultural levels the average answer was is 3-4
- This shows a lot of cultural similarities
- However, those who were older in age would pic larger numbers
- those who were heavier themselves would pick heavier figures
- body dissatisfaction - dissatisfied with their own body, would choose lower numbers - skinner figures
- those exposed to western media picked lower numbers
Romantic Red Effect by Elliot and Niesta, 2009 factors outside of our awareness for attractiveness
- Color can influence the way we think the way we feel and the way we behave
- The colour redGives the idea of passion lust and love
- non-human primates, females have red genitals
- HumanFemales become red in the face when they’re flirting or sexually excited, blush when they become closer to the ovulating phase of their cycle
Romantic Red Effect by Elliot and Niesta came up with a hypothesis and did many studies
hypothesis: The colour red will lead men to view women as more attractive and sexually desirable
study 1: 27 male university students, viewed a white background photo of a woman for five seconds or viewed a red background of the same women and rated the woman Attractiveness
Found:
-More attractive seen against a red background than a white background
follow up studies: Found:
-When red is contrasted with other colors, Such as grey and green
-The dependent variable is sexual attractiveness/desire for sexual activity
-They were askedHow much money they would spend on a date
-They found that they would spend a greater amount of money on the woman that wore red
There are limits to Red Effect
the red effect does not show when
- the dependent measures are likability, intelligence, or kindness
- therefore, red is associated with sexual attractiveness and physical attractiveness but not other positive features
- why is this, red is seen as a mediator to sexual receptivity
- Woman who wear red versus other colors are perceived to be more open to sexual activity and the intern is associated with a greater perception of physical attractiveness and sexual attractiveness
Pazada 2014 Test the limits of Red Effect
hypothesis: That woman in a dating relationship engage in more mate-guarding strategies in response to women wearing red
-They tested the idea that at some level woman known that woman wearing red are perceived as more attractive than a woman wearing other colours so they would feel more threatening if their partner was talking to someone wearing red purses another color
tested the idea -Woman in a dating relationship were showing a photo of a woman wearing red or green. The woman’s Face was blurred but could tell what colour she wore. They were asked to report on her perceived sexual receptivity (sex). Then asked me guarded questions how likely would you let your boyfriend spend more time alone with this person. The woman would say no
Found: Woman rated those in red as hired in perceived sexual perceptivity and we’re likely to say that they would mate-guard
Romantic Red Effect for males but different mechanism
-when Woman view Men
Found:
-red boosts woman rating on men’s attrativness
-however, the mediator was not perceived sexual receptivity it was status
-Wearing red signals higher status then equals Greater Perception of physical attractiveness
-Evolutionary perspective - kings wear red robes