Abstract
People have noticed that less attractive mates seem more attractive near the end of the night. Most blame alcohol consumption, but studies have shown (Johnco,C; Wheeler,L, 2010), (Sprecher, S; DeLamater, J; Neuman, N, 1984) that it is actually the reduction of the dating pool that creates the illusion of attractiveness. The focus of this study is to examine the perception of attractiveness people have when there is a reduced population of viable mates. One interpretation suggests that the perceived increase of attractiveness acts as a means to lower the standards of the yet unaware perceiver. There are certain set points that a person will have when the dating pool is ample, as soon as those levels decrease so does the person’s set point. Researchers on this project give participants a short demographic survey, then randomly select to tell different participants whether a majority of people answered they were in a relationship or they were not in a relationship. We want to find out if a participant hears that more people are getting together in a serious relationship will affect their choices for attractive people. After the manipulation, we show the subject a series of photographs. We then ask them to judge the pictures strictly on attractiveness. We are determining that if there is a threat to the subject’s availability to mates that participants will lower their set points of attractiveness toward the photographs. Initial data has shown support for our hypothesis, to be conclusive more data are needed.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Glenn Scheyd, Jr.
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-4-2014 1:00 PM
End Date
4-4-2014 5:30 PM
Attractiveness Perception: Contemporary and Classic
Alvin Sherman Library
People have noticed that less attractive mates seem more attractive near the end of the night. Most blame alcohol consumption, but studies have shown (Johnco,C; Wheeler,L, 2010), (Sprecher, S; DeLamater, J; Neuman, N, 1984) that it is actually the reduction of the dating pool that creates the illusion of attractiveness. The focus of this study is to examine the perception of attractiveness people have when there is a reduced population of viable mates. One interpretation suggests that the perceived increase of attractiveness acts as a means to lower the standards of the yet unaware perceiver. There are certain set points that a person will have when the dating pool is ample, as soon as those levels decrease so does the person’s set point. Researchers on this project give participants a short demographic survey, then randomly select to tell different participants whether a majority of people answered they were in a relationship or they were not in a relationship. We want to find out if a participant hears that more people are getting together in a serious relationship will affect their choices for attractive people. After the manipulation, we show the subject a series of photographs. We then ask them to judge the pictures strictly on attractiveness. We are determining that if there is a threat to the subject’s availability to mates that participants will lower their set points of attractiveness toward the photographs. Initial data has shown support for our hypothesis, to be conclusive more data are needed.
