Physical attractiveness

• An evolutionary explanation shows physical attractiveness as indicating good health and genetics (eg facial symmetry and clear skin) to pass on to offspring
• Schakleford and Larsen (1997) found people with facial symmetry are rated as more attractive on average as it is seen as an honest indicator of genetic fitness
• Males are attracted to neotenous features such as a small nose as it triggers a protective instinct
• The Halo effect means that people who are seen as physically attractive are more likely to be assumed to be successful and intelligent causing a self-fulfilling prophecy as it changes how they are treated by others
• The matching hypothesis (Elaine Waltser 1966) states that we look for partners who are similar to us in terms of physical attractiveness
• The Matching Hypothesis (Elaine Waltser 1996) states that we realistically rate our own attractiveness and look for individuals who are of similar attractiveness to us to avoid rejection
• Matching hypothesis Strength; Research support from Feingold (1988) who carried out a meta analysis of 17 studies and found a correlation between couples having similar ratings of attractiveness on average HOWEVER this research is only correlational
• Waltser (1966) studied physical attractiveness using a volunteer sample of 177 males and 170 females at the University of Minnesota
• Walster (1966) had 4 student helpers rate participants on a scale of physical attractiveness and told participants to complete a questionnaire to allocate them the ideal partner, however partners were actually randomly allocated
• Walster (1966) paired up the participants at at dance during which they were asked to complete a questionnaire about their partner as well as a follow up 6 months later
• Walster (1966) found that participants reacted better to more physically attractive participants regardless of their own attractiveness rating; this is a weakness of the matching hypothesis
• Matching hypothesis weakness; Walster (1966) found that participants reacted better to more physically attractive partners regardless of their own attractiveness HOWEVER follow up studies showed that in real world situations participants were more likely to choose partners of similar ratings to them
• Matching hypothesis weakness; Taylor (2011) found that users on dating websites are more likely to arrange meetings with people who are rated as more attractive than them
• Matching hypothesis weakness; Towley (1979) found physical attractiveness only impacts individuals with attitudes that are generally considered sexist