Physicsl Attraction

Question 1

Physical attraction & why it’s important

Answer 1

• found ppl w symmetrical faces are more attractive & may be signal of genetic fitness
• ppl attracted to baby faces, widely separated & big eyes, delicate chin, small noses
• act as social releasers

Question 2

Halo effect

Answer 2

“What is beautiful is good”
Dion et al
Array of positive traits, qualities attributed to attractive ppl
• universal construct found good looking ppl to be more friendly
• influence of Disney - villains “ugly”, hero’s “attractive”
• cognitive bias due to forming impressions based on attractiveness

Question 3

Halo effect

Answer 3

“What is beautiful is good”
Dion et al
Array of positive traits, qualities attributed to attractive ppl
• universal construct found good looking ppl to be more friendly
• influence of Disney - villains “ugly”, hero’s “attractive”
• cognitive bias due to forming impressions based on attractiveness

Question 4

Matching hypothesis

Answer 4

Walster 1966
Assumption ppl tend to pair up w ppl who are on the same level of attractiveness as them
- cognitive mechanism
- revolves around self worth/esteem
- fear rejection so we settle w people in our “league”

Question 5

Strength
- predictive validity

Answer 5

Landry & sigall
- found attractive children were graded higher than “unattractive” children
- supports the halo effect

Question 6

Strength
- research support for evolutionary process

Answer 6

• Cunningham et al found women who had large eyes, small nose, prominent check bones were rated highly attractive by Asians, Hispanics & white men
• however, what’s considered attractive is determined by self preferences

Question 7

Limitation
-what is attractive

Answer 7

• individual preferences
• highly subjective
• lack scientific validity