Content provided in partnership with
'What is beautiful is loved': Physical attractiveness in love relationships in a representative sample
Social Behavior and Personality, 2000 by Sangrador, Jose Luis, Yela, Carlos
From many theoretical standpoints (behaviorist, cognitive, socio-biological, psychodynamic, socialization) it is predictable that Physical Attractiveness of the Other person (PAO) is actually more important in the loving relationships than people usually believe. To verify the working hypotheses derived from this general one, a questionnaire was administered in individual interviews, to a representative sample (n=1949) ofthe Spanish population. Data about perceived physical attractiveness by the interviewee in his/her partner, and some variables relevant to loving relationships, were collected. Results indicate that PAO is the principal factor in sporadic relationships, and influences the manner of falling in love. It is also important in stable relationships. In addition, PAO is linked both to feelings and thoughts associated with love (intimacy, passion, commitment, idealization) and to satisfaction with the relationship.
- More Articles of Interest
- Average attractions: psychologists break down the essence of physical beauty
- effects of male age and physical appearance on evaluations of attractiveness,...
- role of sexual desire and sexual activity in dating relationships, The
- Attributions of guilt and punishment as functions of physical attractiveness...
- Personality traits and quality of relationships as predictors of future...
There is a great amount of evidence that Physical Attractiveness (henceforth referred to as PA) plays an important role in first encounters and the formation of impressions ("what is beautiful is good") from the classic studies of Dion, Berscheid, and Walster (1972) to recent ones (e.g. Chen, Shaffer & Wu, 1997), and so it is often tackled by Social Psychology (e.g. Patzer, 1985). In this way, PA has more often been studied in the field of research about attraction (Berscheid & Reis, 1998) or interpersonal perception, but its treatment in the context of research about love is not so common (Sangrador, 1998).
However, this research deals with the role of PA not in the first interactions nor in the impression formation as usually, but in actual loving behavior. Even though people habitually do not recognize (when they are asked about it) a particularly relevant role of PA in their choice of a partner or in the origin and course of their love (e.g. Hadjistavropoulos & Genest, 1994), PA actually could have a significant role also in loving relationships, as this study will endeavor to show. In this way, while the majority of the literature restricts PA to the context of PA of an unknown individual (a stranger), in this work the role of the physical attractiveness of the other person -the partner, the loved one- (PAO henceforth) is considered instead. And it is worthy of note that, while the immense majority of empirical studies are carried out with samples of students (or in any case with non-representative samples), our data have been collected from a representative sample of the Spanish population (in fact, this is the first time that such a sample has been used in Spain to investigate this matter).
THEORETICAL BASES
By looking at the problem from diverse theoretical viewpoints, a series of arguments and hypotheses can be formulated with respect to the important role of PA in loving behavior.
Thus, in the context of reinforcement theories, there is little doubt that "beautiful packaging" improves the final product. It is according to both the well-known Pavlovian Conditioning processes -unconscious association of positive feelings and aspects with attractive stimuli- and from instrumental and vicarious learning a strong social reinforcement provided, in fact, by PA- (Byrne, 1971; Centers, 1975...).
From the perspective of cognitive theories, if an individual's own PA proves to be an important factor in the formation of a self-concept (Wiederman & Hurst, 1997), it follows that the PAO may also be an important factor in our concept of him or her. Countless studies have been carried out on the "halo effect" and the "physical attractiveness stereotype" (we perceive attractive persons as being more intelligent, successful, friendly, trustworthy and even taller), from the classic studies of Dion et al. (1972), to some revisions (Hatfield & Sprecher, 1986), to some meta-analysis (Feingold, 1992), and the more recent works, some of them about differences across cultures (Wheeler & Kim, 1997).
Similarly, arising from theories generated in this context such as dissonance (Festinger, 1957), balance (Heider, 1958), acquaintance (Newcomb, 1961), justice motive (Lerner, 1974) etc., and arising also from approaches centered around information processing -biases and mechanisms- (e.g. Ajzen, 1977), there is a tendency towards the association "beautiful-good", as a reflection of that state of equilibrium or harmony towards which human beings tend (from Dion et al, 1972; to Sangrador, 1993; or Dion & Dion, 1995).
From a socio-biological perspective, the role of PA has re-emerged as a "natural" indicator of good health, therefore having a strong adaptive value in sexual selection (in the mating process), as well as serving as a "releaser" of sexual attraction. For this reason, it should be a fundamental factor, especially in the choice of partner and at the beginning of a relationship (from Trivers, 1972; to Buss, 1994).
From a psychodynamic viewpoint, some light can be thrown on the role of PA in love if we pretend that the choice of a partner may be a response to the previous existence in the individual of an "internal model". This model could be a kind of mental structure reflecting the ideal character as well as physical traits, which serves as a guide, albeit unconscious, in the search for a partner, such that all love is effectively a return to prototypical love. That internal model may be related to the attachment figure (from Bowlby, 1969; and Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, and Wall, 1978; to Ortiz & Yarnoz, 1993).
Find Research Guides for:
Find Featured Titles for: Autos
Most Popular Articles in Health
- Fuel your workout: exercisers who eat before they work out have more energy ...
- Soothe a dry, itchy scalp: 5 easy expert solutions
- Cocktails and calories: Beer, wine and liquor calories can really add up. ...
- The sour truth about apple cider vinegar - evaluation of therapeutic use
- The, six best supplements you've never heard of: these secret weapons can ...
- More »