Physical Attractiveness^ Flashcards
Importance
symmertrical faces indicate a honest signal of genetic fitness
baby face triggers a protective or caring instinct
- resource for females wanting to reproduce
The Halo Effect
Dion et al
treat better hotter people
hot = kind, smart, successful
the belief that hot people have those makes them more attractive as they pick them
- self-fulfiling prophecy
The Matching Hypothesis
Walster & Walster
- choose partner of same attractiveness level
- need a realistic judgement of our value
Walster et al
- The Computer Dance
- attaractiveness rated by observer
- questionnaire
- supposed to match to partner but randomly assigned
Hypnosis not supported, people liked the hotter people most
The Matching Hypothesis & Berscheid et al
replicated Walster’s computer dance experience
but participant choose their own partner
choose people with same level of attractiveness
Research VS Matching Hypothesis
not supported by real world research
Taylor et al
- studied activity logs of dating site
- real world test as measures date choices not preferences
- online dater wanted to meet with hotter people
Undermined the validity of MH, contradicts prediction about matching attractiveness
Research For Matching Hypothesis
choosing someone for dating is different from selecting for romantic relationship
Feingold
- meta analysis of 17 studies
- big correlation in rate of attractiveness between romantic partners
- even if online daters seek hotter people, does not mean they get them
Support for MH of real world established romantic partners
Research Support For The Halo Effect
Palmer & Peterson
hot people rated as more politically knownledgeable and competent
Halo Effect is powerful
as they people knew the hot people had no expertise
Evolutionary Explanations
Cunningham
- female features of baby face were rated higher by white, Asian and Hispanic men
Wheeler & Kim
- Korean and American students judged hot people as more trustworthy/caring/friendly/mature
Individual Differences
more sexist = more vague
Touhey
- rate how much part. liked someone based on photo and info
- MACHO test to asses sexism
less sexist = less caring about appearance
People’s likeability influenced by physical attractiveness when their sexism is high
