1) factors effecting attraction: attractivness

What did shackelford and Larsen (1997) found?

With with asymmetrical faces are rated as more attractive as it’s a sign of genetic fitness

Why are people attracted to neoteneous features?

Because they trigger a procreative and caring instinct

What did Dion et al (1972) found out about the halo effect?

It can lead to stereotypes about personality traits. Dion found that physically attractive people were consistently rated as kind strong sociable and several compared to unattractive people. This belief about good looking individuals makes them even more attractive to us and therefore leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy

Who came up with the matching hypothesis?

Waster and Walster (1969)

What’s the marching hypothesis?

When we seek out romantic relationships, individuals seek out those whose social desirability roughly equals their own

How do we choose partners according to the matching hypothesis?

We asses our own value and then choose a potential partner from available candidates that would be most likely attracted to us. We seek out those most similar to ourself to maximalist the chance of success and minimise the chances of an embrassing rejection

What supportive evidence is there for the matching hypothesis?

Feingold (1988) conducted a meta analysis of 17 studies and found a significant correlation between the perceived effectiveness of an actual partners when rated by independent participants

What’s contradictory finding for the matching hypothesis?

Walster et al (1966) advertised a dance party for new students at a university

Walster et al. (1966): How was the computer dance study conducted?

177 men and 170 women attended a dance. They were rated for attractiveness, completed questionnaires, but were randomly paired despite being told matching was based on compatibility.

What did Walster et al. (1966) find?

Participants liked more attractive partners regardless of their own attractiveness. Personality and intelligence had little effect on initial attraction.

What did Eastwick & Finkel (2008) conclude?

Preferences for physical attractiveness did not predict real-life partner choice, suggesting the matching hypothesis lacks predictive validity.

Outline Eastwick et al (2008) study

They used evidence from speed dating and a longitudinal follow up. Prior to speed dating people showed preference for physical attractiveness but participants actual partner preferences elected both their romantic attraction and their partners specific characteristics

contradictory theory- what’s the complex matching hypothesis?

The belief that matching is much more complex than just physical attractiveness. People enter a relationship offering a number of desirable characteristics that can make up for lack of attractiveness