Factors affecting attraction in romantic relationships: Physical attractiveness

Question 1

Importance of physical attractiveness

Answer 1

Shackeford and Larsen: symmetrical face attractive as honest sign of genetic fitness; neotenous female faces trigger caring instinct in males

Question 2

What is the halo effect?

Answer 2

Positive stereotypes of attractive people that influence our judgement of them (Dion et al)

Question 3

What is the matching hypothesis?

Answer 3

We choose partners who we are roughly similar level of physical attractiveness (Walster)

Question 4

Research support for halo effect

Answer 4

Palmer and Peterson found attractive people rated more politically competent

Question 5

Individual differences (evaluation)

Answer 5

Towhey found some people less sensitive to physical attractiveness when making judgements of personality and likeability

Question 6

Role of cultural influences

Answer 6

Attractive female features and physical attractiveness stereotype both exist across cultures

Question 7

Which piece of research contradicts the matching hypothesis?

Answer 7

Taylor et al: Online dating choices tend to be for more physically attractive people.