Lesson 3: Physical Attractiveness

Question 1

Physical attractiveness

Answer 1

• affects attraction in romantic relationships. Men place a great deal of importance on physical attractiveness when choosing a female partner in the short term and the long-term. Research has shown that physical attractiveness is also very important for females when choosing a male partner, especially in the short term (less important in the long term).

Question 2

Halo effect

Answer 2

• when the general impression of a person is incorrectly formed from one characteristic alone (e.g. physical attractiveness). Physically attractive people are often seen as more sociable, optimistic, successful and trustworthy. People tend to behave positively towards people who are physically attractive and this creates a self-fulfilling prophecy where the physically attractive person behaves even more positively because of the positive attention they receive.

Question 3

Strength of Halo effect explanation

Answer 3

+ Palmer and Peterson (2012) found that physically attractive people were rated as more politically knowledgable than unattractive people. The halo effect was so powerful that it persisted even when participants found out that the physically attractive person had no expertise in politics.

Question 4

Weakness of Halo effect explanation

Answer 4

• Towhey (1979) asked male and female participants to rate how much they liked an individual based on a photograph. Participants also completed a MACHO scale which measured sexist attitudes and behaviours. It was found that participants who scored highly on the MACHO scale were more influenced by physical attractiveness. Those who scored low did not value physical attractiveness. Therefore, the influence of physical attractiveness is moderated by other factors.

Question 5

The Matching Hypothesis

Answer 5

• when initiating romantic relationships, individuals seek partners that have the same social desirability as themselves. Physical attractiveness becomes the major deterring factor as it is an accessible way for each person to rate the other person as a potential partner before forming a relationship. Most people would prefer to form a relationship with someone who is physically attractive but in order to not be rejected, many people will approach others who are of a similar level of attractiveness to themselves.

Question 6

Strength of matching hypothesis

Answer 6

• Fangold (1988) found supportive evidence for the matching hypothesis by carrying out a meta-analysis of 17 studies using real-life couples. He established a strong positive correlation between the partners’ ratings of physical attractiveness, just as predicted by the matching hypothesis.

Question 7

Walstee (1966) (weakness of matching hypothesis)

Answer 7

• Walster (1966) invited 752 first year students at the University of Minnesota to attend a dance party. They were randomly matched to a partner; however, when students were picking up their tickets, they were secretly judged by a panel in terms of physical attractiveness. At the dance party, and 4 to 6 months later, students were asked whether they found their partner attractive and whether they would like to go on a second date with them. Contrary to the matching hypothesis, students expressed higher appreciation of their partner if the partner was attractive, regardless of their of their own level of attractiveness.

Question 8

Complex matching (weakness)

Answer 8

• sometimes a very physically attractive person forms a relationship with an unattractive person. Often a rebalance of traits will occur whereby the less physically attractive person has some other traits to make up for their lack of physical attractiveness (e.g. being rich, having a high status or great personality). This is complex matching.