physical attractiveness Flashcards
Why are people more attracted to physically good-looking individuals?
The evolutionary explanation suggests that we are primed to be attracted to physical indications of health, such as facial symmetry, because symmetry is associated with good genes and fewer developmental deficiencies (Little and Jones, 2003).
What is the Halo effect in relation to physical attractiveness?
The Halo effect is the idea that physically attractive people are assumed to be more successful in other areas of life, such as being intelligent, hardworking, and sociable, leading to more positive interactions and actual success.
What is the Matching Hypothesis?
The Matching Hypothesis states that individuals appraise their own level of attractiveness and seek romantic partners of a similar level to reduce the risk of rejection and ensure relationship stability.
How does the Matching Hypothesis explain mate selection?
Since not everyone can mate with the most attractive individuals, people assess their own attractiveness and pursue partners at a similar level to reduce the chance of being rejected and increase relationship stability.
What did Feingold (1988) find about the Matching Hypothesis?
Feingold (1988) conducted a meta-analysis of 18 studies involving 1,644 couples and found a positive correlation in the attractiveness ratings of couples, supporting the Matching Hypothesis.
What was the significance of Dion, Berscheid, and Walster’s (1972) study?
Dion, Berscheid, and Walster (1972) found that participants rated photographs of physically attractive strangers higher on positive traits like happiness and career success, supporting the Halo effect.
How does Landy and Aronson (1969) support the Halo effect?
Landy and Aronson (1969) found that attractive crime victims led to longer sentences for defendants, while unattractive defendants were more likely to be sentenced, showing that physical appearance influences perceptions of trustworthiness and guilt.
What did Todorov (2005) find about physical attractiveness and elections?
Todorov (2005) found that participants could predict the winners of American elections 73% of the time based only on briefly viewing candidates’ faces, suggesting that people associate appearance with competence.
How does online dating affect the Matching Hypothesis?
Online dating, especially visual-based apps like Tinder, may reinforce the Matching Hypothesis by providing feedback on attractiveness ratings and influencing mate selection.
What is a limitation of the Matching Hypothesis?
The Matching Hypothesis may be too shallow, as while physical attractiveness plays a role in initial attraction, factors like personality, values, and emotional connection likely become more important in long-term relationships.
How does the Matching Hypothesis relate to other relationship theories?
The Matching Hypothesis helps explain initial attraction, but theories like filter theory and social penetration theory may better explain long-term relationship maintenance by considering deeper psychological and social factors.
