External Validity of Matching on Physical Attractiveness for Same and Opposite Sex Couples<sup>1</sup>

McKillip, Jack; Redel, Sharon L.

doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.1983.tb01743.x

Cited by 18 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…If the Self morph images were better stimuli than the others, also participants unrelated to the target faces would show agreement with the previously observed Self morph’s rankings. Interestingly, studies of actual matches in couples have also shown that lovers of similar attractiveness are drawn to one another as romantic partners [42], [43], [44] or that they would prefer a partner similar to themselves [45]; although when given a chance to choose a hypothetical partner (in either the laboratory or speed-dating situations), participants may often prefer partners that are more attractive than themselves [46], [47].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Beauty in the Face of the Beholder?

2013

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Opposing forces influence assortative mating so that one seeks a similar mate while at the same time avoiding inbreeding with close relatives. Thus, mate choice may be a balancing of phenotypic similarity and dissimilarity between partners. In the present study, we assessed the role of resemblance to Self’s facial traits in judgments of physical attractiveness. Participants chose the most attractive face image of their romantic partner among several variants, where the faces were morphed so as to include only 22% of another face. Participants distinctly preferred a “Self-based morph” (i.e., their partner’s face with a small amount of Self’s face blended into it) to other morphed images. The Self-based morph was also preferred to the morph of their partner’s face blended with the partner’s same-sex “prototype”, although the latter face was (“objectively”) judged more attractive by other individuals. When ranking morphs differing in level of amalgamation (i.e., 11% vs. 22% vs. 33%) of another face, the 22% was chosen consistently as the preferred morph and, in particular, when Self was blended in the partner’s face. A forced-choice signal-detection paradigm showed that the effect of self-resemblance operated at an unconscious level, since the same participants were unable to detect the presence of their own faces in the above morphs. We concluded that individuals, if given the opportunity, seek to promote “positive assortment” for Self’s phenotype, especially when the level of similarity approaches an optimal point that is similar to Self without causing a conscious acknowledgment of the similarity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Beauty in the Face of the Beholder?

2013

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“…A particularly puzzling aspect of the lack of previous evidence for attractiveness-based matching is that there is evidence that established romantic partners tend to be similarly physically attractive (e.g., Mckillip & Redel, 1983). This suggests that perhaps individuals do not initially select partners based on matching but rather that homophily happens by some different process (e.g., Kalick & Hamilton, 1986).…”

Section: Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“Out of My League”: A Real-World Test of the Matching Hypothesis

Taylor

Fiore

Mendelsohn

et al. 2011

Pers Soc Psychol Bull

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The matching hypothesis predicts that individuals on the dating market will assess their own self-worth and select partners whose social desirability approximately equals their own. It is often treated as well established, despite a dearth of empirical evidence to support it. In the current research, the authors sought to address conceptual and methodological inconsistencies in the extant literature and to examine whether matching occurs as defined by Walster et al. and more generally. Using data collected in the laboratory and from users of a popular online dating site, the authors found evidence for matching based on self-worth, physical attractiveness, and popularity, but to different degrees and not always at the same stage of the dating process.

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“…Numerous other studies also demonstrate that equity is related to satisfaction in close relationships. These include studies employing either the global equity measures of Hatfield and her co-workers (for example: Davidson, 1984;Rachlin, 1987;Schafer, Keith and Lorenz, 1984;Snell and Belk, 1985), other global equity measures (Peterson, 198 1;Sabatelli, 1984;Sprecher, 1986), or detailed equity measures, referring to the division of household chores (Petersen and Maynard, 1981;Steil and Turetsky, 1987), physical attractiveness (Critelli and Waid, 1980;McKillip and Riedel, 1983), degree of self-disclosure (Davidson, Balswick and Halverson, 1983), power (Mirowsky, 1985), and physical attractiveness and self-esteem (Kiesler and Baral, 1970).…”

Section: Operationalizations Of Equitymentioning

confidence: 99%

A longitudinal study of equity and satisfaction in intimate relationships

Yperen

Buunk

1990

Euro J Social Psych

151

120

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This longitudinal study was aimed at illuminating some fundamental problems with respect to the application of equity theory in intimate relationships. First the relationship between perceived equity and satisfaction was tested, and next it was ascertained whether inequity produces dissatisfaction or vice versa. A second issue addressed in the present study was whether global assessments of equity represent some type of calculation made by the subject of all the relevant inputs and outcomes. Finally, the elements subjects take into consideration when they respond to a global equity measure was assessed. These issues were examined in a sample of 736 primarily married subjects, including 259 couples who had been married for varying lengths of time. The results provide some evidence that equity has an effect upon satisfaction and not vice versa. The assumption that global assessments are based upon a weighted summing up of a representative set of inputs and outcomes was not supported. Instead, it was found that the global measure particularly reflects exchange elements such as ‘commitment to the relationship’, ‘sociability’ and ‘attentiveness’.

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External Validity of Matching on Physical Attractiveness for Same and Opposite Sex Couples¹

Cited by 18 publications

References 22 publications

Is Beauty in the Face of the Beholder?

Is Beauty in the Face of the Beholder?

“Out of My League”: A Real-World Test of the Matching Hypothesis

A longitudinal study of equity and satisfaction in intimate relationships

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External Validity of Matching on Physical Attractiveness for Same and Opposite Sex Couples1

Cited by 18 publications

References 22 publications

Is Beauty in the Face of the Beholder?

Is Beauty in the Face of the Beholder?

“Out of My League”: A Real-World Test of the Matching Hypothesis

A longitudinal study of equity and satisfaction in intimate relationships

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

External Validity of Matching on Physical Attractiveness for Same and Opposite Sex Couples¹