Topic 2 - Attraction

Question 1

Walster et al 1966 study?

Answer 1

• computer dating paradigm
• measured personality, interests, physical attraction
• only 1 factor predicted liking and intention to ask out again = how highly their partner was rated in physical attractiveness by other people

Question 2

Attractiveness and the halo effect?

Answer 2

• attractive people:
  -> greater overall liking
  -> more desirable character traits
  -> higher evaluation of work performance
  -> more lenient treatment in the legal system

Question 3

Attractiveness and positive life outcomes?

Answer 3

• attractive people are more likely to have:
  -> higher income
  -> better mental health
  -> more social influence

Question 4

Length of relationship and attractiveness?

Answer 4

• short term = often different physical attractiveness
• long term = couples are equally attractive

Question 5

Is beauty attractive?

Answer 5

• there is a high level of agreement across cultures
• certain features of faces are reliably associated with attractiveness
• babies prefer attractive faces

Question 6

Is beauty subjective?

Answer 6

• different cultures improve beauty in different ways
• different body types are judged to be more attractive in different parts of the world
• body standards vary over time

Question 7

Zhao et al 2023?

Answer 7

• 682 students were photographed and took part in speed dating
• averageness and similarity rated attractiveness

Question 8

Evolutionary approach to attraction: what is sexual selection?

Answer 8

• idea that the opposite sex prefers some traits more than others, increasing the frequency of those genes in the next generation
  -> attractive traits are passed on
  -> attractive traits benefit the chooser

Question 9

What is monogamy?

Answer 9

1 male, 1 female

Question 10

What is polygyny?

Answer 10

several females, 1 male

Question 11

What is polyandry?

Answer 11

several males, 1 female

Question 12

What is promiscuity?

Answer 12

no bonded relationship (chimps)

Question 13

Human mating patterns?

Answer 13

• a history of mild polygyny
• a monogamous species plagued by polygyny
• sperm competition means some polyandry too
• morphology suggests humans are less conventionally polygynous than gorillas
• less sperm competition than chimps and bonobos

Question 14

Why is symmetry attractive?

Answer 14

• Jones et al 2001 measured symmetry of 60 faces
  -> symmetry predicted ‘apparent health’ and ‘skin patch’ health

Question 15

‘Market value’ and mate preference?

Answer 15

• there are biological markets in non humans
• also seen in humans
• Pawlowski & Dunbar found that in mate advertisements older women make fewer requests
• Little et al 2001 found that more attractive females prefer more symmetric men

Question 16

Ornamentation and mate preferences?

Answer 16

• e.g. tattoos can influence attractiveness

Question 17

Parental characteristics?

Answer 17

• sexual imprinting: parents influence mate preferences in many birds and mammals