Relationships- Factors affecting attraction: Physical attractiveness Flashcards
Physical attractiveness -
An important factor in the formation of romantic relationships. The term usually applies specifically to how appealing we find a person’s face. There is general agreement within and across cultures about what is considered physically attractive.
There exists an assumption that we seek to form relationships with the most attractive person available
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 (i.e. facial) attractiveness. This implies that we take into account our own attractiveness ‘value’ to others when seeking romantic partners.
Why is physical attractiveness important in forming relationships?
Physical attractiveness is important because it may signal genetic fitness, such as facial symmetry, which is difficult to fake. Features like neotenous (baby-face) traits, such as large eyes and a small nose, can trigger protective instincts, making individuals more appealing as potential partners.
What did Shackelford and Larsen (1997) find about facial symmetry?
Shackelford and Larsen found that people with symmetrical faces are rated as more attractive, as symmetry may be an honest signal of genetic fitness.
What did McNulty et al. (2008) discover about physical attractiveness in long-term relationships?
McNulty et al. found that the initial physical attractiveness that brought partners together continued to be an important feature of their relationship after marriage, for at least several years.
What is the halo effect?
The halo effect describes how one distinguishing feature, such as physical attractiveness, disproportionately influences our judgments of a person’s other attributes, such as their personality. Attractive people are often assumed to have positive traits like kindness, strength, and sociability.
What is the physical attractiveness stereotype?
The physical attractiveness stereotype, summarized by Dion et al. (1972) as “what is beautiful is good,” is the belief that physically attractive people possess universally positive traits, such as kindness, strength, and success.
What did Palmer and Peterson (2012) find about the halo effect in politics?
Palmer and Peterson found that physically attractive people were rated as more politically knowledgeable and competent, even when participants knew they had no expertise. This demonstrates the powerful influence of the halo effect.
What is the matching hypothesis?
The matching hypothesis, proposed by Walster et al. (1966), suggests that people choose romantic partners who are roughly similar in physical attractiveness to themselves. This involves a compromise between desiring the most attractive partner possible and avoiding rejection by someone “out of their league.”
What did Towhey (1979) discover about individual differences in the importance of physical attractiveness?
Towhey found that individuals with sexist attitudes (high scorers on the MACHO scale) were more influenced by physical attractiveness when judging likeability, while low scorers were less sensitive to this influence. This shows that the importance of physical attractiveness can vary between individuals.
What did Cunningham et al. (1995) find about cross-cultural perceptions of attractiveness?
Cunningham et al. found that features like large eyes, prominent cheekbones, small noses, and high eyebrows were rated as highly attractive across white, Hispanic, and Asian cultures, indicating consistency in what is considered physically attractive.
What did Wheeler and Kim (1997) find about the physical attractiveness stereotype across cultures?
Wheeler and Kim found that both Korean and American students judged physically attractive people as more trustworthy, mature, and friendly, showing that the physical attractiveness stereotype is strong in both collectivist and individualist cultures.
What did Taylor et al. (2011) find about the matching hypothesis in online dating?
Taylor et al. found that online daters sought meetings with partners who were more physically attractive than themselves, contradicting the matching hypothesis. This suggests that people do not always consider their own level of attractiveness when choosing partners.
What is the significance of cross-cultural findings on physical attractiveness?
Cross-cultural findings suggest that certain features are universally considered attractive, and the physical attractiveness stereotype is pervasive across cultures. This supports the view that physical attractiveness plays a crucial role in forming romantic relationships.
How does Taylor et al.’s (2011) study challenge the matching hypothesis?
Taylor et al.’s study challenges the matching hypothesis by showing that people often seek partners more attractive than themselves, rather than choosing partners of similar attractiveness. This contradicts the hypothesis’s claim that people make realistic, compromise-based choices.
What are the implications of the halo effect for democracy?
The halo effect implies that physically attractive individuals may be unfairly judged as more competent or knowledgeable, even in areas like politics. This could undermine democratic processes if voters base decisions on attractiveness rather than qualifications or policies.
