Factors effecting attraction: Physical Attraction Flashcards
What is an explanation of why physical attractiveness is important?
Sexual selection- people with symmetrical faces may ne more attractive as its a sign of genetic fitness, also those with neotenous features as they trigger caring and protective instinct
What is the halo effect?
Dion et al found that physically attractive people are consistently rated as kind, strong and sociable compared to unattractive people. We believe they have characteristics which make them even more attractive to us, so we behave positively towards them (self-fulfilling prophecy). Halo effect means their attractiveness has a disproportionate influence on our judgements of the other persons attributes.
What is the matching hypothesis?
Walster and Walster 1969- suggest that we look for partner who are similar to ourselves in terms of physical attractiveness instead of choosing the most appealing people.
What was the procedure and findings of the matching hypothesis?
Procedure- male and female students were invited to a dance, they were rated for physical attractiveness by objective observers at the start and completed a questionnaire about themselves. They were told data would be used to pair up with a partner (paired up randomly)
Findings- The hypothesis was not supported, most liked partner were the most physically attracted. Berscheid replicated the study but this time each participant was able to select their partner from varying degrees of attractiveness, p’s chose partners that matched them.
What did they conclude from the matching hypothesis?
We tend to seek partners whose attractiveness matches our own, if we judge ourselves as ‘6 out of 10’ we are likely to seek out a mate of similar attractiveness, we risk rejection by selecting most attractive people so we settle on those who are in our league.
What is brief AO3 of physical attractiveness?
-Research support for the halo effect- Palmer and Peterson
- Research support for evolutionary processes: Cunningham et al
- Matched hypothesis is not supported by real-world research into dating
What are strengths of physical attractiveness?
-Research support for the halo effect- Palmer and Peterson: found that physically attractive people were rated as more politically knowledgeable and competent than unattractive people. Halo effect so strong persisted even if p’s knew they had no particular expertise. Implications for political process- dangers for democracy if politicians are judged as suitable for office just because they are deemed physically attractive by voters.
- Research support for evolutionary processes: Cunningham et al found that women who had large eyes, prominent cheekbones small nose and high eyebrows were rated as highly attractive by white, Hispanic and Asian men. Physical attractiveness is consistent across different societies. Attractive features are a sign of genetic fitness and perpetuated in all cultures. Physical attractiveness makes sense at an evolutionary level
What are weaknesses of physical attractiveness?
Taylor et al studied logs of popular online dating site, real world testing of matched hypothesis. Online daters sought meetings with potential partners who were more attractive, undermines validity of hypothesis as it contradicts central prediction of matching attractiveness.
BUT, choosing individuals for dating could be considered a different situation from selecting a partner for a romantic relationship. Feingold (1988), carried out a meta-analysis of 17 studies and found a significant correlation in rating of physical attractiveness between romantic partners. Dating selection may be a fantasy online, support for hypothesis from studies of real world established romantic partners.
