physical attractiveness

• Halo effect


  individuals seen as physically attractive tend to create a favourable impression of possessing desirable personality characteristics, such as being trustworthy, optimistic and sociable. this is known as the halo effect, where a general impression of someone is incorrectly formed from one characteristic. this is one reason why physically attractive people are more desired as dates or romantic partners than less physically attractive people
• dion et al 'what is beautiful is good'


  fund that physically attractive people are consistently rated as kind, strong sociable and successful compared to unattractive people. believe that good looking people probably have these characteristics makes them more attractive to us so we behave more positively towards them
• Palmer and Petersoon 


  physically attractive people were rated as more politically knowledgeable and competent than unattractive people. these ideas persisted even when participants knew that these 'knowledgeable' people had no particular expertise.
• Walster et al - matching hypothesis


  this believes that when initiating romantic relationships, individuals seek partners who are most like themselves in terms of physical attractiveness. this involves indivikduals assessing their own level of physical attractiveness and then focusing attention upon potential partners of perceived similar physical attractiveness, as there is seen as being less chance of being rejected. it's also been hypothesised that individuals will feel more secure in a relationship with somepone of equal physical attractiveness, due to fears of attractive people ending it
• Brigham 


  found that physically attractive people are seen as having desirable personality characteristics, including being sociable, interesting, exciting and sexually warm, supporting the idea of halo effect, where peoples whole personality is judged on the basis that they are physically attractive
• Gunnel & Ceci 


  found that physically less attractive people are 22% more likely to be convicted in courts of law and to get prison sentences of on average 22 months longer than physically attractive people. this supports the halo effect that physically attractive people are generally seen as more trustworthy. this was based on the opinions of undergraduate subjects at a university who were asked to read case files and assess guilt and suggest a punishment
• Walster & Walster


  told students they had been assigned an ideal partner for a forthcoming dance event, though selections had actually been made at random. the students met up before the dance and those who had been paired up with partners of similar physical attractiveness to themselves expressed greater liking of their partners than those who had been paired up with partners of dissimilar levels of physical attractiveness. this supports the matching hypothesis
• Murstein 


  asked participants to assess from photographs the physical attractiveness levels of genuine couples and non - genuine couples [who had been put together for the study]. it was found that the real couples were more likely to be judges as of similar levels of attractiveness to each other than the non - genuine couples, supporting the matching hypothesis
• taylor et al 


  used profiles and photographs from an online dating site to assess the matching hypothesis, finding that intiial attraction [assessed by whether communication was requested] was based on levels of physical attractiveness, which did not support the matching hypothesis. however, replies were more likely to be sent to individuals who were judged as of similar levels of physical attractiveness and agreements to communicate were also more likely to occur among couples of similar physical attractiveness. this suggests that the matching hypothesis applies more to later stages of dating
• Walster et al's original matching hypothesis stated that individuals would desire to partner with someone as socially desireable as themselves. however, over time the hypothesis has come to be regarded as one focused solely on levels of physical attractiveness
• in an earlier study Walster et alactually found that participants liked people who were more physically attractive and that physical attractiveness wass the best indicator by both males and females of wanting to see someone again. this goes against the matching hypothesis, though when asked months later it was found that participants who actually did date their partner again were of similar levels of physical attractiveness, which supports the hypothesis
• although physical beauty is an important form of attractiveness, those without it can compensate through complex matching, where they may pair up with a more physically attractive partner by being attractive in other ways, such as through wealth or domestic skills
• evolutionary theory suggests that men value physical attractiveness more in women than womeen do in men, which means it is easier for men to compensate through other means for not being physically attractive
• in many cultures, such as those practising arranged marriages, senior family members are regarded as better judges of who is compatible as a partner for their children and therefore attractiveness will be judged on factors other than physical attractiveness
• the matching hypothesis may not be true for online dating or blind dates where they cant see each other
• there are lots of couples that aren't of equal attractiveness - opposing the matching hypothesis
• other factors might be more important than physical attractiveness - such as proximity, familiarity etc
• sometimes physical attractiveness can be intimidating to some as they believe they are more likely to be unfaithful
• younger people probably place more emphasis on physical attractiveness. so age might play a role in the validity of the hypothesis