Facial & Attractiveness

Question 0

Sample of Dematte et al study

Answer 0

16 females from Oxford Uni
Average age : 26 years old
Not informed of aim of the study - Demand characteristics
Askes to complete questionnaires prior to study to ensure normal sense of smell, vision, general health

Question 1

What is the aim of the study Dematte et al?

Answer 1

To determine olfactory cues of differing hedonic value (pleasantness) can modulate (enhance and/or reduce) visual judgements of facial attractiveness

Question 2

Apparatus of the study Dematte et al

Answer 2

40 pre categorised male faces
4 odours used : 
1) Synthetic body odour
2) Male fragrance 
3) Geranium
4) Rubber

Question 3

Why 4 odours?

Answer 3

Assume that the smell comes from the person and not from ambient fragrance

Question 4

What is the function of olfactometer?

Answer 4

To deliver the odour directly to the nostrill

More control over strength & time of the odour released

Question 5

Why only female participants?

Answer 5

• Sensitive to effects of olfactory cues

- Rely more on olfactory cues in mating behaviour

Question 6

Method of the Dematte et al study

Answer 6

Lab experiments

Question 7

Design of the Dematte et al study

Answer 7

Repeated measure design

Question 8

IV and DV of the study

Answer 8

IV : Facial attractiveness factor
- High or Low
IV : Odour pleasantness factor
- Pleasant, Unpleasant, Neutral
Counterbalancing
- Each of the 40 faces is presented with each odour
DV : Rating of the attractiveness

Question 9

Procedure of the study

Answer 9

• Ps sat 70 cm from the computer screen with their chin resting on the chin rest
• Ps were instructed to fixate on a cross at the centre of the monitor
• Ps instructed to start exhaling (remove previous smell) through their nose as soon as they heard a quiet tone, to inhale through their nostrils as soon as they heard a loud tone
• One of the 4 odours was delivered via the olfactometer 5 secs after “loud tone”
• Ps instructed to press a key on the keyboard if they think an odour has been presented
• 1 sec after odour is presented, the fixation cross is replaced with one of the faces for 500ms (0.5 sec)
• As soon as the faces disappeared, the screen turned black, and any odour presented was stopped, replaced by a clean air
• Screen remained black for 2 secs
• 9 rating scale appeared on the screen
• Ps instructed to press a key on the keyboard corresponding to their respond for attractiveness rating at the face they had just seen

Question 10

Results of Dematte et al

Answer 10

Significant main effect of the odour pleasantness on facial attractiveness ratings
Average : Clean air - 4.9
Pleasant odour - 4.85
Unpleasant odour - 4.2
“Relevance” of odour did not produce any significant effects