Physical attractiveness:

• Larsen et al found that those who's faces were symmetrical were more attractive.

  Facial symmetry being a sign of genetically fit
• Halo affect:


  Those who are more perceived to be attractive are more likely to be seen in a positive light.

  Dion et al 1972 found physical attractive people are consistently rated as kind, strong sociable and successful compared to unattractive people

  Belief that attractive people have these characteristics makes them even more attractive to us so we behave positively towards them - example of a self-fulfilling prophecy

  term halo effect is used to describe physical attractiveness tends to have a disproportionate influence on our judgements of a persons other features ie their personality
• Neotenous features:

  people are attracted to faces with neotenous features or baby-face such as widely separated and large eyes, small noes because these trigger a protective or caring instinct, a valuable resource for a female wanting to reproduce.

  McNutty et al 2008: Found that the initial attractiveness that brought partners together continues to be an important feature of the relationship after marriage for at least several years.
• Walster and Walster

  1969: suggests that people were more likely to find a partner who was the same in terms oh physical attractiveness

  1966: Walter et al conducted a study called the computer dance

  • pp invited to a dance
  • rated in terms of physical attractiveness by objective observers and were given a questionnaire
  • were told the data would allow a computer to choose their date for the night

  FINDINGS:

  • hypothesis was not supported the most liked partners were also ones who were the most attractive rather than the same level of attraction
• Walster and Walster 1966:

  FINDINGS:

  • Berscheid et al 1971 replicated the study but this time each pp was able to select their partner from people of varying degrees of attractiveness
  • This time pp tended to choose partners who matched them in physical attractiveness
• Walster and Walster:

  Conclusions We tend to seek and choose partners whose attractiveness matches our own. For example, if we judge ourselves as a '6 out of 10' then we are likely to seek a mate of a similar level of attractiveness. Therefore choice of partner is a compromise - we risk rejection in selecting the most attractive people available so we settle on those who are 'in our league' physically.