Physical attractiveness

Discuss physical attractiveness as a basis for partner preferences (16 marks)

AO1 – Symmetry / neotenous faces

• Shackelford & Larsen (1997): people prefer symmetrical faces.

• Evolutionary view: symmetry may signal health/fertility.

• Halo effect: attractive people are assumed to have other positive traits.

AO1 – Matching hypothesis

• People are attracted to others with a similar level of attractiveness.

• This may reduce the chance of rejection.

AO3

P: Supported by research.
E: Feingold (1991) analysed 17 studies and found a correlation in attractiveness.
E: Suggests people choose partners with similar attractiveness.
L: However, correlation ≠ causation.

AO3

P: Matching may be too simple.
E: Partner choice also involves personality, intelligence and kindness.
E: Physical attractiveness may matter more initially, with other factors becoming important later.
L: Attraction isn’t just based on appearance.

AO1 – Walster & Walster

A: Tested whether people prefer partners with similar attractiveness.
P: 752 university students were randomly paired at a dance.
F: Participants initially preferred the most attractive partners, not similar ones.
C: Attractiveness was more important initially.
Eval: Artificial situation → low ecological validity.

AO3

P: Research challenges matching.
E: Taylor et al. found attractiveness affected who people initially swiped on.
E: But longer-term couples were more similar in attractiveness.
L: Attractiveness may matter initially, matching later.

AO3

P: Preferences may differ between people.
E: Gender/cultural differences affect ideas of attractiveness.
E: This means attraction may not be universal.
L: Matching may not apply equally to everyone.