Physical Attractiveness

Question 1

Why is physical attraction (for example online dating) more suited towards men?

Answer 1

Intrasexual selection states that they need quantity over quality

Question 2

Common factors of physcial attraction?

Answer 2

Signs of genetic fitness (muscular)
Facial symmetry
Signs of health
Indications of youth (sliminess)
Signs of maturity

Question 3

Research into facial symmetry?

Answer 3

Shackleford and Larsen (1997) found that people with symmetrical faces are rated as more attractive.

Signal of genetic fitness. Symmetry is passed down and maintained.

Question 4

McNulty et al (2008)

Answer 4

Initial attractiveness that brought partners together continued to be an important feature of the relationship after marriage for several years.

Question 5

Factor of physical attractiveness (baby face)

Answer 5

Large eyes, delicate chin, small nose ,big lips. Features trigger a protective or caring instinct

Studies support that neotenous facial proportions contribute to female attractiveness.

Question 6

Strength of Physical Attractiveness with regards to cross-cultural research.

Answer 6

One strength is that there is cultural consistency in what is considered attractive.

Cunningham et al (1995) found that over different cultures, female features of large eyes, small nose, high eyebrows, were rates as highly attractive. These also created stereotypes, with them being more trustworthy, mature and friendly.

This consistency suggests Physical Attractiveness isn’t culturally independent and may have evo roots as a sign of genetic fitness.

Question 7

Halo effect (dion et al 1972)

Answer 7

Physical attractiveness links to preconceived ideas about personality, look nicer, are nicer.

Doin et al found that
Physical Attractive people are rates as kind, strong, sociable and successful compared to unattractive people.

Question 8

Strength of halo effect with regards to research support?

Answer 8

Research support, Palmer and Peterson (2012) found that physically attractive people were rated as more politically knowledgeable and competent that unattractive people. Persisted even when they knew that these attractive people had no expertise.

Shows halo effect in real world scenarios.

Question 9

Matching hypothesis?

Answer 9

Walster et al (1966)

Our attractiveness (or how we judge ourselves) effects who we go for. matching attractivness so that we do not go our of our leagues.

have to make realistic judgments about our own value to a partner, compromise.

Question 10

Limitatiation with regards to online dating

Answer 10

Online dating rsearch has not supported its assumptions.

Tayler et al (2011) found online dates sough dates with partners who were more attractive than themselves and did not consider their own level of attractiveness. This research involved actual dating choices yet it does not support matching hypothesis.

Suggesting that the matching hypothesis does not consider different social influences.

Question 11

Limitation with regards to people who do not rate physical attractiveness.

Answer 11

Some individuals do not find physical attractiveness important.

Those who scored highly on the MACHO scale (sexist attitude) were more influenced by physical attractiveness when judging likeability from a photograph and basic biographical data. Low scorers were less sensitive to this therefore it would seem that there are individual differences place upon the importance of physical attractiveness.

Shows the effect of physical Attractiveness can be moderated by other factors.

Question 12

Contradictory evidence for Matched pair hypothesis?

Answer 12

Walster and Walster (1966) – randomly matched dance partners favoured physically attractive partners regardless of their own level of physical attractiveness, contradicting the theory;