The formation of relationships
Sociobiological approach
Evolutionary explaination that says we find those people attractive
who will provide us with genetic advantage over other possible partners
This genetic advantage could take several different forms or a combination of forms
One theory is that attractive people are those who have a symmetrical
face. The better your genes the more symmetrical you look
Another theory may be that the person you find
attractive is very kind. This would be improtant because
it would suggest that the person would be nice to you in
a long term relationship. They would also be more likely
to be nice to you and any children you have with them
A third example would be that you find
intelligence attractive. If a person is intellengent
there is a higher chance that they will be
successful and be able to provide for you and
your children. There is also the fact that if your
partner is intellegent there is a high chance they
will pass that intelligence onto children
A final and important example is that in terms of evolution men and women may find different things
attractive. Women may find different things attracted to a man who has pplenty of resources to spare
for any children they have, or who is strong and could defend her and her children. Men will find fertile
women most attractive, as well as women who will be faithful to them. This may be why men of all ages
(12-100) are often most attracted to women in their 20-30's, as this is the time of thier highest fertility
Davis (1990) conducted a content analysis of 'personal ads' and found
men look health and attractiveness in partners, while the same men
offer wealth and resouces. Women look for resources and status, while
offering youth and beauty. This supports evolutionary ideas of attraction
Dunbar (1995) content analysis on 900 personal ads; 42% of males were
looking for youthful females, while on 25% of females were looking for
youthfulness. 44% of males were seeking attractiveness, while only 22% of
females were seeking attractiveness. Supporting the idea that males and
females differ in terms of what they find attractive based on evolutionary drives
Pawlowski and Dunbar; found that women hide their
age in personal ads. Women ages 35-50 were likely to
disguise theor age, which supports the idea that
eolutionary pressure form part of attraction
This theory cannot explain long distance romantic relationships or those
relationships where the purpose is not to have children. This means that
the sociobiological explaination has limited generalisability and that there
must be other factors that can explain attraction