Factor: Physical attractiveness

• Physical attraction-

  Shackelford + Larsen-

  • Facial symmetry is attractive
  • Sign of genetic fitness + good health
  • Neotenous/baby features - big eyes, small nose, round face - maternal instincts start
  • Adaptive traits - sexy sons
• Physical attractiveness-

  Halo effect - Dion et al

  • physical appearance = bias attitudes
  • rated higher- kindness, strength, sociability, success
  • pretty privilege

  Palmer + Peterson- found that pretty people are seen to be more politically knowledgable = negative social implications
• Physical attractiveness-

  Matching hypothesis - Walster et al

  • Partners chosen for being roughly the same attractive rating
  • Realistically judged about your own value - avoids negative impacts like rejection
  • Computer dance - M+F students were rated and had a questionnaire = random dance partner - most preferred the more attractive partner than the matched = rejected hypothesis
  • Berscheid replicated the study but allowed P’s to choose their own partner = same rating + ecological validity
• Physical attractiveness-

  • Murstein- photos of married couples, P’s rated attractiveness, positive correlation with attractiveness in M+F = matching pairs
  • Feingold- meta-analysis of 17 studies, correlation of attractiveness using romantic partners
  • Cunningham- large eyes, small nose, high brows, visible cheek bones (neotenous)= universally rated as attractive
• Physical attractiveness-

  S- supporting studies - halo + matching hypothesis, Palter + Peterson, Cunningham, Murstein, Feingold

  W- Palmer + Peterson - negative social impacts

  W- Taylor - online relationships choose more attractive partners

  W- Meltzer- gender bias - men more satisfied with physically attractive partners

  W- subjective to individual preferences