Physical attraction Flashcards
(9 cards)
Physical attractiveness in terms of evolution
Idea that people with symmetrical faces are often viewed as more attractive because symmetry is a sign of health and genetic fitness.
2 explanations?
Halo effect and the matching hypothesis
what is the halo effect?
The tendency to behave more positively towards attractive people. We tend to attribute positive qualities to those we consider attractive, simply because they are attractive, in comparison to those we consider unattractive.
Dion et al
Attractive people are consistently rated as successful, kind, and sociable when compared to unattractive people.
who proposed the matching hypothesis theory?
Elaine Hatfield
matching hypothesis theory?
people are more likely to form and succeed in a committed relationship with someone who is equally physically attractive. According to the Matching Hypothesis, in real life, people select a prospective partner who matches their own perceived level of physical attractiveness. Therefore, a person’s choice of partner is a balance between a desire to have the most physically attractive partner possible and their wish to avoid being rejected by someone who is “way out of their league.”
However, for the two partners to be matched, a realistic judgment must first be made about one’s own physical attractiveness. If the Matching Hypothesis brings two partners of equal physical attractiveness together, it is proposed that both parties will feel more secure in their romantic union, with less fear or jealousy that temptation from other, more physically attractive prospective partners might bring about the end of the relationship.
Palmer and Peterson
Halo effect supported by them. They asked participants to rate attractiveness and unattractive people in terms of how politically competent and knowledgeable they believed them to be. They found that attractive people were consistently rated higher on these characteristics compared to unattractive individuals. This shows that physical attractiveness is an important factor in attraction because it creates the illusion that people also have more attractive personalities,
Research that contradicts the matching hypothesis: WALSTER
WALSTER:
conducted research to investigate whether people will only go out with individuals who match their own perception of attractiveness. In the experiment, participants were rated on their level of attractiveness by four independent judges and were paired randomly to dance in a competition at an American university. At the end of the dance, they were asked whether they found their partners attractive and if they would go on a date. They found that people were willing to go out with those who were attractive, even if they themselves were not considered attractive.
This contradicts the Matching Hypothesis, which claims that a person’s choice of partner is a balance between a desire to have the most physically attractive partner possible and their wish to avoid being rejected by someone who is “way out of their league.” This weakens the credibility of the Matching Hypothesis.
CROSS CULTURAL RESEARCH
There is cross-cultural research that supports the idea that physical attraction may be a universal factor in attraction. Cunningham et al. found that White, Asian, and Hispanic males, despite being from different cultures, rated females with prominent cheekbones, small noses, and large eyes as highly attractive. The universality of these findings supports the nature debate and suggests that mating preferences may be influenced by biological factors. This supports sexual selection, as these physical features are considered attractive in all cultures, suggesting a universal preference for them in females.
