Discuss physicsl attractiveness as a factor affecting attraction in romantic relationships

Evolutionary value – Buss

Buss found men place high value on physical attractiveness — seen as a cue to health and fertility in potential mates.

Symmetry – Shackelford & Larsen

People with symmetrical faces rated as more attractive — signals genetic fitness, which can’t be faked.

Baby-face features (neoteny)

Large eyes, small nose, delicate chin = seen as attractive — triggers caring instincts and desire to protect.

Halo effect – Dion

Attractive people judged as more kind, sociable, and successful — physical beauty creates a biased perception of personality.

Matching hypothesis – realistic choices

We assess our own attractiveness and look for partners at a similar level to avoid rejection.

Matching hypothesis – compromise

Balances desire for most attractive partner with risk of rejection — people often “match” with similar attractiveness level.

✅Research support – Palmer & Peterson

Found attractive people rated as more politically competent — supports halo effect and biased perception.

✅Feingold – matching support

Meta-analysis of real-life couples found significant correlations in physical attractiveness — supports matching hypothesis.

❌Individual differences

Not everyone values looks equally — Towhey found people low in MACHO scale were less influenced by physical appearance.

✅Cultural consistency

Standards of beauty (e.g. symmetry, neoteny) appear consistent across cultures — suggests evolutionary basis for attraction.