Physical attractiveness Flashcards
(12 cards)
What is one explanation of physical attractiveness as a factor affecting attraction?
Evolutionary theory
Who found that people with symmetrical faces were rated as more attractive?
Shakelford and Larsen
Why do people find symmetrical faces more attractive?
It may be an honest sign of genetic fitness as it is difficult to fake facial symmetry
What are neotenous features?
Child like features
What features do men find attractive in women?
Widely seperated large eyes and a small nose are seen as more attractive
Why are neotenous features seen as attractive by men?
It triggers a protective and caring instinct which is a valuable resource for females wanting to reproduce
Who suggested the matching hypothesis?
Walster et al
What does the matching hypothesis suggest?
It suggests we look for partners who are like ourselves in terms of physical attractiveness, instead of choosing the most appealing people
Who replicated a peice of research called ‘the computor dance’?
Berscheid et al
What happened in Berscheid et al’s research?
Participants were asked to choose their own dance partner from people of varying degrees of physical attractiveness
What was found in Berscheid’s research?
Participants chose partners who ‘matched’ them in physical attractiveness
Why do we choose people whose attractiveness is similar to our own?
Because we risk being rejected if we selected someone who was much more attractive
