Psychology - Relationships - Factors affecting attraction: Physical attraction Flashcards
Shackelford and Larsen (1997)
Found that people with symmetrical faces are rated as more attractive. may be because this is an honest sign of genetic fitness.
Why are people attracted to faces with neotenous?
Because they trigger a protective or caring instinct
neotenous
Baby-like features such as large eyes, small nose and chin.
Halo effect
Physical attractiveness may matter because we have preconceived ideas about the personality traits attractive people must have and they are almost universally positive
Dion et al (1972)
what is beautiful is good’ Physically attractive people are consistently rated as kind, strong, sociable and successful compared to unattractive people
What are the strengths of the Halo effect?
- Research evidence by Palmer and Peterson (2012) - Research support by Cunningham et al. (1995) and Kim (1997) it’s cross cultural
Palmer and Peterson (2012)
Found that physically attractive people were rated as more politically knowledgeable and competent than unattractive people. Halo effect was so powerful that it persisted even when participants knew that these knowledgeable people had no expertise
Cunningham et al (1995)
Female features of large eyes, small noses and cheekbones were rated as physically attractive by white asian and hispanic males.
Kim (1997)
USA and Korean students judges physically attractive people as trustworthy, mature and friendly but this was less evident for unattractive people
What are the weaknesses of the Halo effect?
- Contradicting research evidence. Towhey
Towhey
MACHO scale measuring sexism and behaviour and those who scored high were more influenced by physical attractiveness
What is the matching hypothesis
The belief that we do not select the most attractive person as a prospective partner but, instead, are attracted to people who approximately ‘match’ us in physical attractiveness.
What does the matching hypothesis suggest about ourselves?
That we take our own attractiveness into account when seeking a partner
Walster and Walster (1969)
Suggests we look for a partner similar to ourselves in attractiveness personality and intelligence
What was the procedure of Walster and Walster (1969)?
117 males and 170 females had to fill a questionnaire about IQ and Personality and told they would be given a partner based on scores. 4 independent judges judged physical attractiveness and the pairings were done randomly by a computer. They were asked if they wanted to see the partner again and followed up 6 months later.
