2. FFA: Physical Attraction

Evolutionary explanation

Evolutionary explanation- suggests that certain physical features are attractive, as they indicate genetic fitness and ability to produce healthy offspring.

1) Symmetric faces

-people tend to be viewed as more attractive. Explanation is that facial symmetry is a good signal of genetic fitness, as its is difficult to fake

2) Baby-face hypothesis

-neotenous features, meaning young looking features are seen as attractive (large eyes, small nose, round face). Attractive because they can activate caring and protective instincts in us.

The Halo Effect

It’s based on stereotype “what is beautiful is good”.

Physically attractive people tend to create an automatic favourable impression, they may be judged as having + character (kind, strong, sociable, successful), from only a brief meeting.

The idea is that because we believe attractive people have more + characteristics, we feel more attraction towards them and behave more positively towards them. They may then respond + to us, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The Matching Hypothesis

The idea is that people seek partners who are similar to themselves on different attributes (IQ, physical attractiveness, fitness level).

To do this, individuals need to assess their own level of physical attractiveness and then the attractiveness of potential partners. People are more likely to feel secure when in relationship with someone of equal physical attractiveness, as people fear that a more attractive partner will leave them for someone else.

similar attractiveness → greater security → more stable attraction/relationship

Self-esteem (as affecting matching hypothesis)

-Low self-esteem (but attractive) may be more likely to seek someone who is less attractive, as they may believe that person is less likely to reject them

-High self-esteem, may believe that nobody would reject them and therefore may be more likely to seek partners who could be considered “ out of their league”

Evaluations for Physical Attractiveness

Supporting research (Halo effect)

Ev: Research found that physically attractive people were rated as more politically competent and generally knowledgeable than unattractive people. Ex: Support halo effect, as people make + assumptions about attractive people without necessarily having evidence that they actually have these characteristics. L: High internal val., as suggests that physical attractiveness can accurately explain + judgments and attraction through halo effect.

Supporting research (matching hypothesis)

Ev: Research conducted a meta-analysis of 17 studies and found a significant + correlation between physical attractiveness ratings of genuine romantic partners. Ex: Supports matching hypothesis, as romantic partners tend to have similar levels of physical attractiveness, suggesting people choose partners who are similar to themselves. L: Increasing reliability of matching hypothesis, as findings are consistent across multiple research studies.

Contradicting research

Ev: Research studied activity logs from a popular online dating website and found that people seek meetings with a more physically attractive partner than themselves, rather than considering their own level of attractiveness. Ex: Contradicts matching hypothesis, as people didn’t appear to choose partners based on having similar levels of physical attractiveness. L: Low ecological val., as matching hypothesis may not be generalised to everyday dating, particularly modern online dating.