Factors affecting attraction - physical attractiveness

• What is a weakness of focusing solely on physical attractiveness when choosing a mate?

  It does not explain why some people are with partners who are significantly more or less attractive.
• What did Sprecher and Hatfield (2009) find about relationships?

  People in relationships may offer many desirable characteristics beyond physical attractiveness.
• What is meant by 'complex matching' in relationships?

  It refers to compensating for a lack of physical attractiveness with other desirable qualities.
• How might a person compensate for a lack of physical attractiveness?

  By offering desirable qualities such as a charming personality or financial status.
• Why is it significant that people can attract partners who are more physically attractive than themselves?

  It shows that compensatory assets can play a crucial role in attraction.
• What example illustrates the concept of compensatory assets in relationships?

  An older, wealthy man pairing with a younger, attractive woman.
• Why might research fail to find evidence of matching in terms of physical attractiveness?

  Because other factors may be more important than physical attractiveness.
• What are compensatory assets in the context of relationships?

  Desirable qualities that can offset a lack of physical attractiveness.
• How do personality traits influence mate selection?

  They can make up for a lack of physical attractiveness in a partner.
• What is a strength of the matching hypothesis regarding physical attraction?

  There is research support.
• What did Feingold find in his meta-analysis related to the matching hypothesis?

  He established a strong correlation between partners’ ratings of attractiveness.
• Why is the finding of individuals seeking partners with similar social desirability significant?

  It supports the matching hypothesis in real-life scenarios.
• How do consistent study results affect the reliability and validity of the matching hypothesis?

  They increase the reliability of the theory and its external validity.
• What does the matching hypothesis explain?

  Physical attraction.
• What type of couples did Feingold's meta-analysis focus on?

  Real-life couples.
• How many studies did Feingold analyze in his research?

  17 studies.
• What does a strong correlation between partners’ ratings of attractiveness indicate?

  It supports the predictions of the matching hypothesis.
• What is meant by social desirability in the context of partner selection?

  It refers to the perceived attractiveness and social value of an individual.
• What is the significance of achieving consistent results in studies related to the matching hypothesis?

  It enhances the reliability and external validity of the theory.
• What is a weakness of the matching hypothesis regarding physical attraction?

  There is conflicting research for this theory.
• What was the purpose of Walster's Computer Dance Study?

  To investigate if participants would prefer a physically attractive partner.
• In Walster's study, how were the dance partners assigned?

  They were randomly assigned by the researcher.
• What did Walster's study find regarding participants' preferences for follow-up dates?

  Participants preferred to arrange follow-up dates with physically attractive partners.
•  An issue of looking at physical attractiveness as a factor affecting

  attraction is that there may be cultural biases.

   The vast majority of research carried out on theories such as babyface

  and the matching hypothesis (Cunningham and Feingold) are

  conducted in the US and other individualist cultures.

   This matters because the findings may vary in other cultures,

  particularly collectivist cultures as theories are rooted in Western

  culture and views.

   Therefore, believing that physical attraction is a universal concept

  means there could be an imposed etic.
• Why is the finding of Walster's study significant?

  It suggests that similarity in attractiveness may not be important to people.
• What does the inconsistency in researchers' results imply about the matching hypothesis?

  It implies that the theory lacks reliability.
• What is a limitation of self-reported preferences for attractive partners?

  They may not reflect people's actual partner choices in real life.
• What are the key findings and implications of Walster's Computer Dance Study?

  • Participants preferred physically attractive partners.
  • Partners were randomly assigned, not based on attractiveness.
  • Suggests similarity in attractiveness may not matter.
  • Indicates inconsistency in research results challenges the matching hypothesis.
  • Self-reported preferences may not align with real-life choices.