PSC 150 - Midterm 2

attraction

the desire to approach or be with someone

attraction’s evolutionary connection

an evolved tendency to respond favorably to individuals who pass the “friend vs. foe” test

familiarity

liking those we encounter frequently

proximity

being physically nearby

mere exposure

people come to like stimuli to which they have been exposed repeatedly

similarity

we like people who are similar to us

reciprocity

liking those who like us

dyadic reciprocity

liking that is uniquely shared between two people

generalized reciprocity

the tendency for people who generally like others to be liked themselves

three classics in attraction

familiarity, similarity, reciprocity

ideal partner preferences

three categories of trust:

warmth/trustworthiness
attractiveness/vitality
status/resources

warmth/trustworthiness

understanding, supportive, considerate, kind, a good listener, sensitive

partners are open to intimacy, commitment, and will become a successful parent

attractiveness/vitality

adventurous, nice body, outgoing, sexy, attractive, good lover

partners are healthy and perhaps are highly fertile and/or have good genes

status/resources

good job, financially secure, nice house or apartment, successful, dresses well

partners can ascend social hierarchies and form coalitions

what is beautiful is good

our stereotypes about attractive people are they’re: interesting and intelligent, sociable and outgoing, successful in career and love

what is beautiful is culturally good

matching

people tend to date and marry others of similar attractiveness

Social Relations Model

who says you’re attractive; as much, if not more, of the “action” takes place at the level of the relationship effect vs. actor and partner effect

actor effect

how much others think I am attractive

your standard and selectivity, you’re looking out

partner effect

how much others think I am attractive

(you’re being looked at)

relationship effect

how much do I think you are attractive above and beyond my actor effect and your partner effect

error

how much I can’t decide if someone is attractive or not

strategic pluralism

two ways to achieve reproductive success

find a mate who can invest in offspring
find a mate with good genes

why is attractive appealing?

fluency, good genes

fluency

average symmetrical stimuli are pleasing to look at

good genes

attractiveness is a costly marker; if you have genes that resist pathogens/diseases, attractiveness is your genes’ way of “showing off”

fluctuating asymmetry

another marker of “good genes”; the degree to which an organism’s bilateral features (e.g., ears, feet, hands (are discrepant in size)

less symmetry = more susceptible to diesase

more symmetry in men = more desire for and more desired by women for short term relationships

menstrual cycle effects

women engage in trade-offs
short-term sex with “good genes”
long-term sex with “good providers”

short-term sex happen specifically when conception probability is high

social role theory

biological factors cause men and women to occupy different roles

people develop characteristics relevant to their roles and seek complementary characteristics from mates