LECTURE 27 - Attraction What makes a person attractive Predictors - physical attractiveness - personality traits - socially-oriented processes Physical - Tanned, muscles, eyelids, long neck - High correlation between cultural groups for perceived attractiveness - Universal features · Clear complexion - large organ -> most visibly signals physical health - marketing capitalizes on this . Bilateral symmetry - rarely perfectly symmetrical - asymmetry signals poorer health - genetic mutations or pathogens - less important than clear complexion · average features - large deviations from average - eurasian faces perceived as more attractive and perceived to be the healthi- est Genetic fitness explanation - people from the same ethnic group have more homozygosity -> less adap- tive perceived physical heath -> more attractive · pathogens may cause physical imperfections personality traits - Emotional stability* - dependability* - kindness - intelligence * most predictive Socially-oriented 1
- does similarly or opposition better predict attractiveness? - Propinquity effect . tendency to form relationships with people that we encounter more often · occurs to mere-exposure effect - primarily works for non-negative first impres- sions - similarity-attraction effect · tendency to become attracted to people who are similar to us · plays bigger role for things that are more important · associated with independent self-construal 2