Lecture 6 Flashcards
Discuss the differences between sociocultural view and adaptive view on attractiveness
If the sociocultural view of attractivness was correct, there would be agreements of attractiveness within cultures and a disagreement between cultures, however there seems to be agreements on attractiveness between cultures too. Does this mean there is something deeper and more built in about attractive ratings?
Discuss averagness and attractiveness
Researchers have found that composites of faces are more attractive than the individual faces that make up that composite. The more faces added; the more attractive that composite becomes. Alley,& Cunningham (1991). Researchers have suggested that more averageness = more symmetrical = attravtiveness.
What is the relationship between attractiveness and symmetrical faces?
Symmetry is related to fitness; ass]ymmetry would suggest a more damaged fitness thus less likely to survive or has less good genes. Therefore if you have grown symmetrical it would suggest you have good genes. Research has found that more symmetrical animals have more offspring. However, there are different types of symmerty; fluctuating symmetry which is a perfect distribution among populations, directional symmetry which is something everyone has for example a right handed person may be more muscley on the right, and antisymmetry. There are species that are asymmetrical influenced by sexual dimorphism.
How is sexual dimorphism related to attractiveness
Mandrill males have brightly coloured faces and this is seen as attractive to attract the attention of females and to show they have good genes. However, despite the two being related, when a male face is more masculine it is not always more attractive. Women prefer masucline men for one night stands. But a less masculine man is seen as nicer and a better father and more likely to stay by the woman and help her raise her offspring.
Discuss sexual strategies in males
Males ideally want more partners over a few years and would have sex sooner in a relationship than females would. Males more more likely to sleep with a partner after a day than a woman, however males and females have the same likelihood of sleeping with someone after 1 year and longer.
Discuss the sexual strategies Buss & Schmitt (1993) found
One night stands, flings and affairs are short term with indirect benefits and all that is needed is genetic quality; that is all that is looked for in these types of relationships. However, marriages stable boyfriends and fathers of children are long-term with indirecta and direct benefits as well as paternal care, but these men are sought after for their genetic quality, resources, family, commitment, personality and status!
What is the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis
It suggests that the immune system competes for resources with sexually selected ornaments; variation in ornaments might reflect genetic variation for immunocompetence, for example those on steroids are more vulnerable to illness (however research is mixed). This has been tested by testing cultures with high and low rates of diseases; is their tesosterone count different? We could assume that cultures with more diseases have more effects of testosterone; however there are confounds such as people prefering more masculine faces.
Discuss the effects of menstural cycle on female behaviour
Lap dancers earn more tips whilst ovulating, and in general females were more revealing clothing.
Is there a relationship betwen facial colour and attractiveness
Carotenoids are pigments in fruit and veg mainly, that can increase the tan in someones skin. Those with a higher level of carotenoids are percieved as more attractive. They also have a direct role within the immune system; they are used to fight infections. Therefore a more tanned face is healthier! Blood diffusion can also affect perception of attractiveness. Blood diffusion increases attractiveness as it may be seen as more dominant (Stephen et al., 2010).
Discuss the relationship between smell and attractiveness
Smell is important in mate choice in many species. Human’s olfactory bulb in the brain is smaller and relied upon less than in other species, and males and females smell abilities differ with women considering it important more than men. MHC (major histocompatibility complex) suggests that when salmon mate they choose MHC dissimilar mates but when they are not mating they choose MHC similar! Humans also choose their partners based on their smell, and the smell can show who is the most genetically compatible for immune systme in offspring.
Discuss genetic compatibility
Better immune response of offspring from extra-pair copulations. Other offspring of the males had average immunity. Gangestad & Thornhill (1998), found that people find those with less similar immune system genetics to smell the best and are more likely to choose those people as a partner. This is so their offspring get the best genetics for their immune systems. This is primarily a finding in women in relationships and other species. However when women take an oral contraceptive, there MHC preferences change.
Discuss voice and attractiveness
Female red deer prefer the roars of larger males. Vocal masculinity is not clearly related to body size!
Discuss body size and attractiveness
Males don’t tend to have preferences of female heights, but prefer shorter females. However this is not as much as females prefer taller males. Bother partners are most satisfied when the male is taller. Short males get paid less; is this why they are less attractive to females? Women prefer a large shoulder/waist ratio (V-shape males), and males prefer large waist to hip ratio (0.7 is the optimal and they have cleverer babies). These are regardless of BMI. But males prefer an optimal/healthy BMI score.
