Factors Affecting Attraction In Relationships- Physical Attractiveness (matching Hypothesis)

Question 1

What is the halo effect

Answer 1

Is a cognitive bias where we associate positive attributesto people who are more attractive

This positively affects attractive people as these positive labels given by people leads to self fufilling prophecy shown as attractive people on average make more money, more likely to get jobs and promotions even though beauty and performance don’t correlate.

Question 2

Halo effect supporting study - dion et al

Answer 2

Attractive people are consistently rated as successful kind and sociable compared to unattractive people
-showing we tend to behave more positively to attractive people

Question 3

What is the matching pairs hypothesis

Answer 3

People will go for people who are on the same level of physical attractiveness as them as they do not want to go for someone too far our their league and get rejected.
-so people need realistic views of themselves in order for this to happen

Question 4

study against matching hypothesis -taylor

Answer 4

People on dating websites try to meet up with people more attractive than themselves
When according to the matching pairs hypothesis they should be approaching people on similar scale of attractiveness

Question 5

Walster study against matching pairs hypothesis

Answer 5

376 makes 376 females asked to a dance at uni
-4 judges secretly rated students in terms of attractiveness as they came in.
-asked to fill out questionnaire to find similarities w other people their but where actually partnered randomly.
-they were then asked if they found partner attractive and if they want a second date

Results- pp responded more positively to pp rated more attractive regardless of what they were rated.

Conclusion- more positive to people who are more physically attractive regardless of thief own physical attraction.

Question 6

2 Supporting studies of matching pairs hypothesis

Answer 6

Silverman
- couples observed in a natural dating setting appeared happier and more intimate than couples that are not on the same level of attractiveness

Murstein- photos of real life long-term couples and they were rated similarly on a scale of attractiveness compared to control group

❌both in 1970s lacks temporal validity

Question 7

Evaluation of matching pairs hypothesisn

Answer 7

❌- research against the hypothesis
❌-attractiveness is subjective pp may view themselves as similar attractiveness to people they reacted positively towards.
❌culture bias- physical attractiveness is proritised more in western cultures
Doesn’t take into account arranged marriages

✅- two supporting studies with high ecological validity
❌^ however observing relationships doesn’t tell u how satisfied a couple is

Question 8

Study to show Sex differences in physical attraction

Answer 8

Meltzer
-ratings of wives attractiveness positively correlated w husbands level of satisfaction at beginning of a marriage. ^ to 4years
-rating of husbands attractiveness wasn’t related to waives satisfaction.

Question 9

Study against sex differences in physical attraction

Answer 9

Pasch and Bradbury
Mem and women desire someone who is supportive, trustworthy and warm
- those who have partners w these qualities tend to be more satisfied.
-shows looks are not leading factor in marriage satisfaction for either sex