Physical Attraction

Question 1

Importance of physical attractiveness

Answer 1

Shackelford and Larson (1997)
People with symmetrical faces are rated as more attractive- seen as a sign of genetic fitness

Also attracted to faces with neotenous features- widely separated and large eyes, delicate chin and a small nose
-because they trigger a protective/caring instinct

Question 2

Halo Effect

Answer 2

-we have a tendency to associate highly attractive people with pre-conceived disproportionately positive characteristics

• therefore we’re likely to view attractive people as trustworthy, honest, successful and more sociable

Those perceived as more attractive receive lighter criminal sentencing

Question 3

Matching Hypothesis

Answer 3

choose partners with similar physical attractiveness

• have to make a realistic judgement about our own value to a potential partner

-we all desire the most physically attractive partner possible- however we balance this against the wish to avoid being rejected by someone ‘out of our league’ who might not find us physically attractive

Question 4

AO3= Physical Attraction
Research support for matching hypothesis

Answer 4

Feingold (1988)
-meta-analysis of 17 studies
Found a significant correlation in ratings of attractiveness between romantic partners

-shows that individuals tend to choose romantic partners of a similar level of attractiveness to them

ISSUES AND DEBATES= Mundane Realism

Question 5

AO3- Physical Attraction
Cross cultural research

Answer 5

Cunningham et al (1995)
Suggests that the features that are viewed as attractive are the same across white, Hispanic and Asian males
-This suggests that physical attractiveness is important in the formation of relationships regardless of culture
-Therefore, perhaps the features that we find attractive are due to evolution rather than culture

Question 6

AO3- Physical Attraction
Research contradicting the matching hypothesis

Answer 6

-Research on online dating appears to contradict the theory
-Taylor et al (2011) studied a popular online dating site and found that online daters sought meetings with potential partners who were more physically attractive than them
-This contradicts matching hypothesis because it appears the online daters were not considering their own level of attractiveness when making decisions about who they wanted to date