factors affecting attraction - physical attractiveness

• what is physical attractiveness?

  how appealing we find a person's face
• in terms of physical attractiveness, what is generally agreed across cultures?

  features we consider physically attractive
• what is an assumption about physical attractiveness?

  generally, we try to form relationships with the most physically attractive person available
• give two explanations of why physical attractiveness is important in interpersonal attraction

  evolutionary explanationsthe matching hypothesis
• what do evolutionary explanations suggest?

  we find certain physical features attractive as they signal the person is a good option to get our genes into the next generation
• how does facial symmetry link to attraction?

  people with symmetrical faces are considered to be more attractive
• why is facial symmetry attractive?

  symmetrical features are an 'honest' signal of strong, healthy genes which we desire in our partner as an attractive partner should produce attractive, healthy offspring who will survive + reproduce successfully
• what are neotenous features?

  baby-like features
• how do neotenous features link to attraction?

  neotenous features like large eyes and small noses are considered to be most attractive
• why are neotenous features attractive?

  they trigger a caring response from the partner neotenous features are characteristic of young children + trigger development of the attachment bond in parents & children females who want to reproduce sneed to be cared for during pregnancy/birth females with features that trigger the caring response reproduce most successfully
• give a strength of evolutionary explanations in physical attractiveness

  :) valid explanations - neotenous features are consistent across cultures so preference is decided by natural selection - Cunningham et al found female features like large eyes, prominent cheekbones and high eyebrows rated as attractive by white, Hispanic and Asian males
• what does the matching hypothesis suggest?

  genetically programmed to desire the most attractive partner but there are few highly attractive people + they'll be in high demand so unless we're also highly attractive, very attractive people are likely to reject us necessary to make a compromise and balance our genetically programmed desire with fear of rejectionwe judge our own level of attractiveness + settle for someone with the same level
• according to the matching hypothesis, do our partners have to look like us?


  no they just need to have the same 'attractiveness rating' e.g. a 6/10 goes out with a 6/10
• give a strength of the matching hypothesis

  :) importance of physical attractiveness in interpersonal attraction supported by research evidence e.g. Feingold et al - did meta-analysis of 17 studies - found significant correlation in attractiveness between romantic partners - study has high ecological validity as it assessed actual partners - matching hypothesis is a valid explanation
• give two weaknesses of the matching hypothesis

  :( Feingold et al research is correlational so cause and effect can't be established - effect may be other way around e.g. people become more similar when spending lots of time together (similar diet, similar value to personal grooming) - hypothesis isn't properly validated as the explanation is weak :( research has failed to confirm predictions of the matching hypothesis e.g. Taylor et al studied activity on an online dating agency - found participants sought dates with most attractive partners, irrespective of their own attractiveness - study has high ecological validity as it looked at actual choices - matching hypothesis is likely an invalid explanation