Factors affecting romantic relationships Physical Attractivness Flashcards
(14 cards)
What is the halo effect?
The idea that people who are judged to be attractive are typically perceived in a positive light.
The halo effect leads to the assumption that attractive individuals possess other desirable traits.
What did Dion et al. (1972) find regarding attractive people?
Attractive people are consistently rated as successful, kind, and sociable compared to unattractive people.
This suggests that attractiveness influences perceptions of other personal qualities.
What is the matching hypothesis?
The concept that individuals choose partners who match their own level of physical attractiveness.
This hypothesis implies that people consider both their attractiveness and the attractiveness of potential partners.
According to the matching hypothesis, what do people balance when choosing a partner?
A desire for the most physically attractive partner and the wish to avoid rejection by someone who is ‘way out of their league’.
This balancing act often leads to settling for a partner with a similar level of attractiveness.
True or False: People automatically choose the most attractive partner available.
False
People use common sense to estimate their attractiveness in relation to potential partners.
What did Walster et al. (1966) explore in their study?
The theory of attraction
Their experiment did not support the theory.
How many participants were involved in Walster et al.’s experiment?
752 participants (376 men and 376 women)
Participants were matched up with partners in a computer dance study.
What was the main finding regarding partner preferences in the study?
People preferred partners who were deemed attractive, regardless of their own attractiveness levels.
What aspect of the study did Walster et al. (1966) find to have low ecological validity?
The study did not accurately represent dating.
What evolutionary explanation supports the process of attraction?
Physical attractiveness plays a significant role in early romantic relationships and attraction as it helps humans select genetically fit mates.
This is based on the idea that certain physical traits are indicators of reproductive fitness.
What specific physical traits were noted by Cunningham as being attractive?
Large eyes and cheekbones.
These traits were rated as more attractive by white, Hispanic, and Asian men.
According to Cunningham, how consistent are preferences for physical attractiveness across different societies?
Preferences for physical attractiveness are consistent across different societies and cultures.
This suggests a universal standard of beauty linked to reproductive signs.
True or False: The study by Cunningham indicates that preferences for physical traits vary significantly across cultures.
False.
The study shows consistency in preferences across different cultures.
Fill in the blank: Large eyes and cheekbones are considered signs of _______.
[reproductive fitness].
These traits are associated with physical attractiveness.
