Factors affecting Attraction

• What is the low waist-hip ratio an indicator of in terms of physical attractiveness?

  Fertility
• What does a symmetrical face signify in terms of physical attractiveness?

  Honest sign of genetic fitness
• What are neotenous features in terms of physical attractiveness?

  Large eyes and small nose
• Why do neotenous features trigger a protective instinct?

  They resemble baby-face features
• What did McNulty et al find about initial attractiveness in relationships?

  It remains important several years after marriage
• What is the halo effect in terms of physical attractiveness?

  Attractiveness disproportionately influences judgments of personality
• What is the matching hypothesis according to Walster?

  People choose partners of similar attractiveness
• What was the main finding of Walster et al's (1966) study?

  People prefer attractive partners regardless of their own attractiveness
• Why might the subjective judgment of attractiveness in Walster et al's study be a limitation?

  It could lead to unreliable results
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Walster et al's (1966) study?

  Strengths:

  • Large sample size (376 men & 376 women)
  • Controlled environment

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Low ecological validity
  • Subjective judgment of attractiveness
• What was the sample size in Walster et al's (1966) study?

  376 men and 376 women
• How long after the initial meeting were participants in Walster et al's study asked about their date?

  4-6 months
• What is the main conclusion of Walster et al's (1966) study?

  The matching hypothesis was not supported
• What are the key findings of Dion et al regarding physical attractiveness?

  • Physically attractive people are rated as more kind, sociable, and successful
  • The halo effect influences judgments of personality based on attractiveness
• What are the implications of McNulty et al's findings on initial attractiveness in relationships?

  • Initial attractiveness remains an important factor in relationships even years after marriage
  • Physical attractiveness has a lasting impact on relationship satisfaction
• Why might the random pairing method in Walster et al's study be a strength?

  It eliminates bias in partner selection
• Why might the computer dance setting in Walster et al's study be a limitation?

  It lacks real-life dating context
• How might the findings of Walster et al's study be applied to real-life dating scenarios?

  People may prioritize attractiveness over similarity in partners
• What are the key features of the halo effect?

  • One distinguishing feature (e.g., attractiveness) disproportionately influences judgments of another (e.g., personality)
  • Attractive people are often rated more positively in other areas
• What are the implications of the matching hypothesis in real-life relationships?

  • People may choose partners of similar attractiveness to avoid rejection
  • The hypothesis may not always hold true, as seen in Walster et al's study
• What was the main purpose of Walster et al's (1966) study?

  To test the matching hypothesis
• What was the main outcome of Walster et al's (1966) study regarding the matching hypothesis?

  The hypothesis was not supported
• How might the findings of McNulty et al's study impact long-term relationship satisfaction?

  Initial attractiveness continues to influence satisfaction over time
• There is research support for the halo effect, provide an explanation

  • Peterson found that physically attractive people were rated as more politically knowledgeable and competent than attractive people
  • The halo effect is so powerful that it is persisted even when pps knew that these 'knowledgeable' people had no particular expertise.
• There is research support for the evolutionary explanation, provide an explanation

  • Cunningham found that women who had features of large eyes, small nose were rated as highly attracted by white men.
  • Researchers concluded that attractive features such as symmetry are a sign of genetic fitness
• What does the first level of filter, social demography, include?

  Geographical location, social class, education level, ethnic group, religion
• What is the 'field of availables' in the filter theory?

  Potential partners narrowed down by social demography
• What is the 'field of desirables' in the filter theory?

  Potential partners narrowed down by similarity in attitudes
• Why is similarity in attitudes important in the filter theory?

  Encourages greater and deeper communication and promotes self-disclosure
• What does complementarity refer to in the filter theory?

  Partners complement each other's needs, opposites attract later in relationships
• What type of study did Kerckhoff and Davis conduct in 1962?

  Longitudinal study
• Who were the participants in Kerckhoff and Davis's 1962 study?

  Student couples
• Over what period did Kerckhoff and Davis's 1962 study take place?

  7 months
• What are the key findings of Kerckhoff and Davis's 1962 study?

  • Similarity of attitudes is most important in the first 18 months
  • Complementarity becomes more important after 18 months
  • Supports the 2nd and 3rd filters of the filter theory
• What are the three levels of filters in Kerckhoff and Davis's filter theory?

  1. Social demography (1st level)
  2. Similarity in attitudes (2nd level)
  3. Complementarity (3rd level)
• What were the two groups of student couples in Kerckhoff and Davis's 1962 study?

  Some together less than 18 months, some more than 18 months
• What are the problems with complementarity?

  • Markey found that lesbian couples of equal dominance were the most dissatisfied, even when one needs to be dominant and the other submissive
  • Their sample of couples had been romantically involved for a mean time of more than 4 and a half years
• A limitation of the filter theory is the lack of cause and effect, provide an explanation

  • Theory suggests people are attracted to each other because they are similar
  • Anderson suggested that couples become more emotionally similar overtime (emotional convergence)
  • Reduces validity of the theory
• What is self-disclosure in the context of relationships?

  Revealing personal information to a partner
• According to the social penetration theory, what happens as partners self-disclose more?

  They become more committed to each other