Factors Affecting Attraction: Physical Attractiveness Flashcards
(13 cards)
physical attractiveness definition
an important factor in the formation of romantic relationships.
The term usually applies specifically to how appealing we find a person’s face.
There is a general agreement within and across cultural about what is considered physically attractive, and an assumption that we seek to form relationships with the most attractive person available.
matching hypothesis definition
the belief that we do not select the most attractive person as a prospective partner but instead are attracted to a person who approximately ‘matched’ us in physical (I.e. facial) attractiveness.
This implies that we take into account our own attractiveness ‘value’ to others when seeking a romantic partner
AO3 (1) factors affecting attraction - physical attractiveness
- A weakness of the matching hypothesis as a factor affecting attraction is limited research support
- For example, the original study by Walster et al. 1966) that attempted to confirm the matching hypothesis failed to do so
- This is a weakness as it shows the unreliability of the matching hypothesis as a factor affecting attraction. Additionally, the research itself cannot be used accordingly in a real world setting as the raters who has to judge the attractiveness of the participants only had a few seconds to do so, therefore reducing the credibility of research support for the matching hypothesis.
- However, it can be argued that there is some support for the hypothesis in its narrow form as referring to physical attractiveness only. Feingold carried about a meta-analysis of 17 studies and found a significant correlation in ratings of attractiveness between romantic partners.
- Despite this,
- Thus decreasing the internal validity of matching hypothesis as a factor affecting attraction
AO3 (2) factors affecting attraction - physical attractiveness
- A weakness of physical attractiveness as a factor affecting attraction is individual differences.
- For example, Towhey asked male and female participants to rate how much they would like a target individual based on their photograph and some biological information. The participants also completed a questionnaire – the MACHO scale 0 designed to measure sexist attitudes and behaviours.
- He found that participants who scored highly on the scale were more influenced by the physical attractiveness of the target when making their judgement of likeability. Low scorers were less sensitive to this influence showing that not all participants are affected by physical attractiveness compared to external factors that affect their decisions so although physical attraction can be a strong factor it is not always the main factor to form a relationship, therefore reducing its utility as a factor affecting attraction.
- However, it can be argued that the setting and procedure is what affected these results as in real life, in online dating, physical attractiveness is the basic factor used to judge a potential partner showing that, thus validating physical attractiveness as a factor for affecting attraction.
- Despite this, the effects of physical attraction can be moderated by other factors, and so challenges the notion that it is a significant consideration in a relationship formation for all potential partners
- Thus decreasing the external validity of physical attractiveness as a factor affecting attraction
What did Shackelford and Larsen (1997) find about facial symmetry?
Symmetrical faces are rated as more attractive because they may signal genetic fitness.
What are neotenous features and why are they attractive?
A: Baby-like features (e.g., large eyes, small nose, delicate chin) trigger a caring instinct, which is evolutionarily beneficial, especially for reproduction.
Q: What did McNulty et al. (2008) find about attractiveness in long-term relationships?
A: Initial physical attractiveness remains an important factor in relationships even years after marriage.
Q: What is the halo effect?
A: The tendency to assume that physically attractive people have other positive traits, like kindness and success.
Q: What did Dion et al. (1972) find about the perception of attractive people?
A: Attractive individuals are consistently rated as more kind, sociable, and successful than unattractive people.
Q: How does the halo effect influence behaviour?
A: People behave more positively towards those they perceive as attractive.
Q: What does the matching hypothesis suggest?
A: People are more likely to form relationships with others who are similar in social desirability, especially physical attractiveness.
Q: How do people choose a partner according to the matching hypothesis?
A: They assess their own value and choose partners who are a good ‘match’—realistically within their own attractiveness level.
Q: Why might people avoid choosing the most attractive partner available?
A: To avoid rejection and increase the likelihood of forming a stable relationship with someone of a similar attractiveness level.
