Physical Attactiveness

PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS

​​​​​​Physical Attractiveness

- Men place great importance on physical attractiveness in a mate.

Matching Hypothesis - individuals seek out partners whose social desirability approximately equals their own.

Key Study: Walster and Walster (1966)

Procedure - male and female students completed questionnaires and were rated for physical attractiveness. Partners are allocated randomly, although the students believed they were matched in terms of personality and intelligence.

Findings - Participants responded more positively if their dates were physically attractive than 'matched'.

Evaluation

- Speed dating and the challenge to traditional views of attraction (Eastwick and Finkel found no gender differences in importance of physical attractiveness.

- Value for physical attractiveness may not predict real-life partner choice.

- Research support for sex differences in the importance of physical attractiveness, according to Meltzer.

- Implications of sex differences in the importance of physical attractiveness, according to Meltzer et al.

- Complex matching means a person may compensate for a lack of physical attractiveness with other desirable qualities.

- Matching may not be that important in initial attraction, according to Taylor et al.