Although a considerable body of research has examined the impact of student attractiveness on instructors, little attention has been given to the influence of instructor attractiveness on students. This study tested the hypothesis that persons would perform significantly better on a learning task when they perceived their instructor to be high in physical attractiveness. To test the hypothesis, participants listened to an audio lecture while viewing a photograph of instructor. The photograph depicted either a physically attractive instructor or a less attractive instructor. Following the lecture, participants completed a forced choice recognition task covering material from the lecture. Consistent with the predictions; attractive instructors were associated with more learning. Finally, we replicated previous findings demonstrating the role attractiveness plays in person perception.

No abstract

Certainly one of the first things that we notice when meeting someone new is how physically attractive that they are. Although the vast majority of studies in the literature suggest favoritism for physically attractive humans, some research indicates that negative biases may occur as well. This discrepancy in the literature may simply indicate the failure of differing experimental methods to adequately tap the same construct; however, it is also a likely indicator of moderating factors at work. This study employs an episodic memory task to demonstrate the moderating effects of self-esteem threat on physical attractiveness attributions. Furthermore, results indicate that attractiveness-based stereotypes are susceptible to fluctuations in self-esteem, such that individuals experiencing a threat to self-esteem become more reliant on stereotyping.

Abstract. This study examined the influence of the type of partner infidelity (sexual vs. emotional) and sex of participant on actual mate abandonment and mate retention behaviors. It was predicted that men would engage in significantly more mate abandonment behaviors after experiencing a physical infidelity and that women would engage in significantly more mate abandonment behaviors after experiencing an emotional infidelity. To test this hypothesis, men and women who had either experienced a sexual or emotional infidelity were recruited and were asked to complete several measures designed to indicate their behavioral responses to the infidelity. The men and women in the study showed the predicted asymmetrical pattern of behavioral choices in response to sexual and emotional infidelity.

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of gender on suspicion towards claims made during courtship communications. It was hypothesized that participants would be more suspicious of claims made about reproductive relevant traits. To test the hypothesis, participants read a total of eight scenarios describing traits relevant to female reproduction (wealth, commitment, and child interest), traits relevant to male reproduction (physical beauty, youth, and sexual availability), and traits neutral to both genders (stargazing and game playing). After each scenario, participants indicated their suspiciousness about the veracity of the communication on five scales. As predicted, both men and women believed the neutral claim scenarios more than claims about reproductively significant traits. Women compared to men were more suspicious of claims related to wealth, commitment, and child interest, while men compared to women were more suspicious of claims related to physical beauty, youth, and sexual availability. Keywords Courtship communication . Suspicion . GenderDeception is common during human mate selection where both men and women engage in intersexual deceit in an effort to obtain high-quality mates (Dussault, Hojjat, and Boone 2013;Epstein 2007). A common intersexual deceptive strategy is to exaggerate or use false statements to convince prospective mates that they possess traits desired by the opposite sex (Bleske-Rechek and Buss 2006; Gonzaga, Keltner, Londahl, and Smith 2001; Toma and Hancock 2010). Gender Differences in Mate PreferencesEvolutionary psychologists drawing on Trivers' (1972) parental investment theory have specified a number of potential differences between the mate preferences of men and women. Trivers (1972) noted that biological differences between men and women (e.g., differences in reproductive capacity, energy and time to reproduce, and parental certainty) would result in sex-differentiated mating strategies and mate preferences. Specifically, women compared to men should be more interested in restricting reproduction, investing heavily in each child, and finding a mate that is willing do likewise. Consequently, when selecting long-term mates, it is beneficial for women to consider a man's willingness to commit to a long-term relationship and his ability and willingness to assist in raising offspring (Todd, Penke, Fasolo, and Lenton 2007). Alternatively, given the shorter reproductive life women, men will need to place more emphasis on cues related to the reproductive status such as youth. Further, the smaller initial investment in reproduction by men may allow them to place more emphasis on cues associated with immediate reproductive value such as beauty.Numerous studies have found that women compared to men prefer mates who are rich in resources (e.g., Buss 1985;