Topic 2 - Attraction Flashcards
1
Q
Walster et al 1966 study?
A
- computer dating paradigm
- measured personality, interests, physical attraction
- only 1 factor predicted liking and intention to ask out again = how highly their partner was rated in physical attractiveness by other people
2
Q
Attractiveness and the halo effect?
A
- attractive people:
-> greater overall liking
-> more desirable character traits
-> higher evaluation of work performance
-> more lenient treatment in the legal system
3
Q
Attractiveness and positive life outcomes?
A
- attractive people are more likely to have:
-> higher income
-> better mental health
-> more social influence
4
Q
Length of relationship and attractiveness?
A
- short term = often different physical attractiveness
- long term = couples are equally attractive
5
Q
Is beauty attractive?
A
- there is a high level of agreement across cultures
- certain features of faces are reliably associated with attractiveness
- babies prefer attractive faces
6
Q
Is beauty subjective?
A
- different cultures improve beauty in different ways
- different body types are judged to be more attractive in different parts of the world
- body standards vary over time
7
Q
Zhao et al 2023?
A
- 682 students were photographed and took part in speed dating
- averageness and similarity rated attractiveness
8
Q
Evolutionary approach to attraction: what is sexual selection?
A
- idea that the opposite sex prefers some traits more than others, increasing the frequency of those genes in the next generation
-> attractive traits are passed on
-> attractive traits benefit the chooser
9
Q
What is monogamy?
A
1 male, 1 female
10
Q
What is polygyny?
A
several females, 1 male
11
Q
What is polyandry?
A
several males, 1 female
12
Q
What is promiscuity?
A
no bonded relationship (chimps)
13
Q
Human mating patterns?
A
- a history of mild polygyny
- a monogamous species plagued by polygyny
- sperm competition means some polyandry too
- morphology suggests humans are less conventionally polygynous than gorillas
- less sperm competition than chimps and bonobos
14
Q
Why is symmetry attractive?
A
- Jones et al 2001 measured symmetry of 60 faces
-> symmetry predicted ‘apparent health’ and ‘skin patch’ health
15
Q
‘Market value’ and mate preference?
A
- there are biological markets in non humans
- also seen in humans
- Pawlowski & Dunbar found that in mate advertisements older women make fewer requests
- Little et al 2001 found that more attractive females prefer more symmetric men
