PSY 3126 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Symmetry In Biology, Sukha, Physical Attractiveness
28 Apr 2018
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November 13, 2017
Interpersonal Attraction and Close Relationships
Universals of Physical Attractiveness
Some aspects of physical attractiveness have been found to be universally attractive:
-Clear complexion
-Bilateral symmetry
-Average features
Universals: Clear Complexion
People are attracted to healthy mates
Skin signals health more directly than any other visible aspect - most visible aspect of the body
The cosmetics industry provides people with ways to make their complexion look clearer - exploits the need for clear
skin
People have strong aversive reactions to skin conditions
Universals: Bilateral Symmetry
Another marker of health is bilateral symmetry
-Our genes usually code for some form of symmetry
-Symmetry is a marker of developmental stability
When an organism develops under ideal conditions, its right and left sides will be symmetrical
Genetic mutations, pathogens, or stressors in the womb can lead to asymmetrical development
-The more asymmetrical someone is, the more likely he or she is to have various genetic mutations or to have
developed in less than ideal circumstances —> less likely that the person is in prime health
On average, asymmetrical faces are viewed as less attractive
Universals: Average Features
Faces with averagely proportioned features are more attractive than faces that deviate from average
Average features are less likely to contain genetic abnormalities and are more symmetrical
We can process a stimulus that is closer to a prototype easier than one that is further from a prototype
-Easy processing is associated with a pleasant feeling that gets interpreted as attraction
Not only do people prefer average features, people prefer averaged faces across ethnicity/race
-Mixed kids are better
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November 13, 2017
-Assume that their genetic makeup is more variable - increased genetic variability increases the likelihood of having
a healthy child
-Multiracial faces also represent the best average of all the faces the people have encountered in their lives
Cultural Variability: Body Weight
“Average is attractive” does not apply to aspects beyond facial features
-Seen in people’s preferences for weight, height, muscles, breasts, and hips
-Bodies that depart from average are seen as more attractive
The kinds of body weights that are perceived to be most attractive vary considerably across cultures
In 1951, anthropologists concluded that heavier women were universally found to be more attractive
-Ex. In Western Africa, the term “fat” is often viewed as complimentary, indicating strength and beauty
-Indicates you have access to enough resources to gain weight
-More fat tends to be indicative of fertility
In many ways, in the West, women who are unusually thin fit the ideal body weight
-These ideals for thinner women have been more prevalent during the past few decades, while actual average body
weights have increased
-Being thin may be thought to reflect self-control, especially in North American cultures where there is easy access
to food
-May also indicate future health
-May reflect an ability to access healthier foods - tend to be more expensive
-May signal status - have the time and money to be able to go to the gym
Other Bases of Interpersonal Attraction
Propinquity effect: people are more likely to become friends with people with whom they frequently interact
-Based on the mere exposure effect - the more we are exposed to a stimulus the more were are attracted to it
•Appears to be due to the pleasant associations developed through classical conditioning, when one learns that
a stimulus is not threatening and to the pleasant affect associated with easy to process stimuli
-Appears to be a cultural universal
Similarity-attraction effect: people tend to be attracted to those who are most like themselves
-People are more likely to view someone as attractive either as a potential friend or a romantic partner if both are
similar in their attitudes, economic background, personality, religion, social background, and activities
-Not as fundamental an effect as the mere exposure effect - not found as broadly across species, present in other
cultures but the effect is consistently weaker than with North Americans
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Document Summary
Some aspects of physical attractiveness have been found to be universally attractive: Skin signals health more directly than any other visible aspect - most visible aspect of the body. The cosmetics industry provides people with ways to make their complexion look clearer - exploits the need for clear skin. People have strong aversive reactions to skin conditions. Our genes usually code for some form of symmetry. Symmetry is a marker of developmental stability. When an organism develops under ideal conditions, its right and left sides will be symmetrical. Genetic mutations, pathogens, or stressors in the womb can lead to asymmetrical development. The more asymmetrical someone is, the more likely he or she is to have various genetic mutations or to have developed in less than ideal circumstances > less likely that the person is in prime health. On average, asymmetrical faces are viewed as less attractive. Faces with averagely proportioned features are more attractive than faces that deviate from average.
