RS- Physical Attractiveness Flashcards
What is one of the factors that affect attractiveness?
Physical attractiveness
Why is physical attractiveness important for men?
- Men place a great deal of importance on physical attractiveness when choosing a female mate in the short term and the long term.
- Important cues in females that males look for include health, fertility, glossy hair, big eyes, small nose and reproductive value.
Why is physical attractiveness important for women?
- Research has shown that physical attractiveness is also very important for females when choosing a male partner, especially in the short term (less important long term).
- Females value strong, big males who have facial symmetry as this can indicate genetic fitness.
- Physical attractiveness might vary across different cultures.
What is the halo effect?
- When one characteristic (physical attractiveness) has a disproportional effect on other judgements about a person.
- Dion et al (1972) found that physically attractive people were rated highly on characteristics such as kindness, strength, sociability and other positive traits.
- Therefore, people who are attractive physically are more likely to be treated more positively, as others tend to think positively of them.
Evaluate the halo effect.
ADVANTAGES
1) Support for the halo effect was found by research conducted by Palmer and Peterson (2012).
- Physically attractive people were rated as more politically knowledgeable and competent than unattractive people.
- The halo effect was so powerful that it persisted even when participants found out that the physically attractive person had no expertise in politics.
- The implications of this research can be applied to political processes; there might be dangers for democracy if politicians are judged as suitable for office if they are physically attractive (+)
2) The halo effect does not just apply to romantic relationships.
- It applies to other areas of life such as friendships, job interviews and meeting people for the first time.
- Therefore the halo effect is very powerful in terms of physical attractiveness being a key factor in how people are judged by others
Evaluate the halo effect. (DISADVANTAGES)
1) Towhey found evidence that contradicts the halo effect, as some people do not attach great importance to physical attractiveness.
- Towhey asked male and female participants to rate how much they liked an individual based on a photograph and some biological information.
- Participants also completed a MACHO scale which measured sexist attitudes and behaviour.
- It was found that participants who scored highly on the MACHO scale were more influenced by physical attractiveness when judging the photograph.
- Those who scores low on the questionnaire did not value physical attractiveness very much.
- Therefore the influence of physical attractiveness can be moderated by other factors such as personality and attitudes that the judging person holds (-)
What is the matching hypothesis?
- Walster et al (1966) suggested that people choose romantic partners of a roughly equivalent level of attractiveness to themselves.
- This involves being able to make an accurate judgement about their own attractiveness level.
- This is partly because, practically, not everyone can mate with the most attractive people, but also to avoid the person being rejected by someone more attractive than them.
- There may be a difference between what a person would like, and what they would ‘settle for’ in a relationship.
Evaluate the matching hypothesis. (DISADVANTAGES)
1) There is contradicting research evidence from Walster and Walster’s study.
- Male and female students were randomly allocated an ideal partner for an evening dance.
- All ppts were asked how much they liked their date and if they wished to see them again, and this was followed up 6 months later using questionnaires.
- Results found that physical attractiveness was a big indicator in determining whether the ppts wanted to see their date again, especially if their date was more attractive themselves.
- This study shows lack of support for the matching hypothesis as people will often aim higher by wanting to date someone more attractive than them.
Evaluate the matching hypothesis. (ADVANTAGES)
1) Psychologists conducted a meta-analysis of 17 studies, and found a significant correlation in ratings of attractiveness between partners supporting the matching hypothesis.
2) Cavior (1972) has found very strong evidence supporting the matching hypothesis amongst long term committed couples rather than short term relationships.
- Therefore couples who were engaged, married or in a long term relationship seemed to follow the matching hypothesis more than casual daters especially when the relationship was being formed in the first place. (+)
