Relationships: FFA - Physical Attractiveness

Question 1

What is physical attractiveness related to?

Answer 1

Symmetry, which is an honest signal of genetic fitness

Question 2

What does symmetry suggest?

Answer 2

Genetic fitness - robust genes

Question 3

Shackleford and Larsen (1997): found

Answer 3

Found people with symmetrical faces are more physically attractive

Question 4

Why select partner with symmetrical face?

Answer 4

More likely to produce offspring with a robust genes who survive and reproduce themselves

Question 5

Types of neotenous features

Answer 5

Baby like: wide eyes, small nose

Question 6

Why are neotenous features attractive?

Answer 6

Thought to trigger protective instincts

Therefore, explanations based on PA are evolutionary - evolved a liking for PA because it’s a signal of high quality

Question 7

McNulty et al (2008)

Answer 7

Found initial attractiveness continue to be important feature feature of the relationship after marriage for at least several years

Question 8

The halo effect

Answer 8

How one distinguishing feature (e.g physical attractiveness) tends to have a disproportionate influence on judgements about same persons attributes (e.g personality)

Question 9

Matching hypothesis

Answer 9

Choose partner that are the same level of attractiveness as oneself
To do this, individuals first assess their own value to a potential partner

Question 10

Walster et al

Answer 10

Matching hypothesis

Question 11

Why is choosing a partner a compromise?

Answer 11

Evolutionary theory: We should seek the most attractive mates
Reality: Choose a partner who is similar in attractiveness, rather than ‘out of league’ = less risk of rejection

Question 12

Halo effect can lead to….

Answer 12

Self fulfilling prophecy

Behave positively towards attractive people, helping the characteristics that make them attractive become a reality

Question 13

Dion et al

Answer 13

Found attractive people are consistently rated as kind strong sociable and successful compared to unattractive people

Question 14

A03: Support for halo effect

Answer 14

Palmer and Peterson (2012)

Question 15

A03: Palmer And Peterson

Answer 15

Found physically attractive people were rated as more politically knowledgeable than unattractive people
Halo effect persisted even when participants knew these ‘knowledgeable’ people had no particular expertise

Question 16

A03: Palmer And Peterson importance

Answer 16

politicians might be elected because they are considered physically attractive
Important implications on the state of politics
success of politicians explained by as a result of halo effect rather than actual expertise
This knowledge can be used to the advantage of some parties when selecting candidates

Question 17

A03: personality may be influential on behaviour

Answer 17

Towhey (1979)

Question 18

A03: Towhey

Answer 18

Not everyone considers physical attractiveness as important
Participants w low scores on MACHO scale = less likely to be attracted to an individual purely based on physical attractiveness

Question 19

A03: MACHO scale

Answer 19

Measures underlying sexist beliefs about others

Question 20

A03: Towhey SO what?

Answer 20

Suggests PA from an evolutionary perspective doesn’t provide same selection pressure for all individuals
Explains cases of couples where one is significantly more attractive than the other
Therefore, halo effect has theoretical value