Physical Attractiveness: Outline

Question 1

Physical Attractiveness -

Buss (1989)

Answer 1

men place greater importance on physical attractiveness as it’s a cue to a woman’s healthy, fertility and reproductive value

women rely physical attractiveness for short term relationships but it becomes less important for long term relationships

Question 2

The ‘Matching Hypothesis’ -

Walster and Walster (1969)

Answer 2

claims that individuals seek out partners whose social desirability roughly equals theirs

individuals first asses their own value and then select the best available candidate who would most likely be attracted to them

by going for people in a similar ‘league’ to them, they maximise their chances of a successful outcome

Question 3

Matching and Physical Attractiveness -

Answer 3

people pair up with those who are similar in physical attractiveness

Walster called these ‘realistic’ choices because individuals are influenced by the chances of their affection being reciprocated

these choices must consider factors such as:
what he/she desires, whether thy et him or her in return and whether their desirable alternatives are available

in real life, people settle for mating ‘within their league’ whether they want to or not