physical attractiveness

• Why is physical attractiveness considered important in evolutionary theory?

  It signals genetic fitness
• What did Shackelford & Larsen find about facial symmetry?

  Facial symmetry is attractive due to genetic fitness
• What is the halo effect?

  What is beautiful is good
• How does physical attractiveness influence perceptions of personality traits?

  Attractive people are assumed to have positive traits
• What did Dion et al. find about physically attractive people?

  They are rated as kind, strong, and successful
• What is the self-fulfilling prophecy in relation to attractiveness?

  Beliefs about attractive people influence behavior towards them
• How does the halo effect influence judgments of a person's attributes?

  One feature disproportionately influences other judgments
• What does the matching hypothesis suggest about partner selection?

  We seek partners similar in physical attractiveness
• Why do people settle for partners in their league?

  To avoid rejection from the most attractive
• What is the compromise involved in partner selection according to the matching hypothesis?

  Balancing desire for attractiveness with rejection risk
• What are the implications of the physical attractiveness stereotype?

  • Preconceived ideas about attractive people's traits
  • Traits are almost universally positive
  • Influences social interactions and judgments
• What are the key concepts related to physical attractiveness in social psychology?

  • Evolutionary theory
  • Halo effect
  • Physical attractiveness stereotype
  • Self-fulfilling prophecy
  • Matching hypothesis