Relationships: FFA - Physical Attractiveness Flashcards
What is physical attractiveness related to?
Symmetry, which is an honest signal of genetic fitness
What does symmetry suggest?
Genetic fitness - robust genes
Shackleford and Larsen (1997): found
Found people with symmetrical faces are more physically attractive
Why select partner with symmetrical face?
More likely to produce offspring with a robust genes who survive and reproduce themselves
Types of neotenous features
Baby like: wide eyes, small nose
Why are neotenous features attractive?
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
McNulty et al (2008)
Found initial attractiveness continue to be important feature feature of the relationship after marriage for at least several years
The halo effect
How one distinguishing feature (e.g physical attractiveness) tends to have a disproportionate influence on judgements about same persons attributes (e.g personality)
Matching hypothesis
Choose partner that are the same level of attractiveness as oneself
To do this, individuals first assess their own value to a potential partner
Walster et al
Matching hypothesis
Why is choosing a partner a compromise?
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
Halo effect can lead to….
Self fulfilling prophecy
Behave positively towards attractive people, helping the characteristics that make them attractive become a reality
Dion et al
Found attractive people are consistently rated as kind strong sociable and successful compared to unattractive people
A03: Support for halo effect
Palmer and Peterson (2012)
A03: Palmer And Peterson
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
