Factors affecting attraction: physical attractiveness, including the matching hypothesis
People tend to find physically attractive individuals more appealing as romantic partners. The matching hypothesis adds that people usually pursue partners who match their own level of attractiveness.
Real World
Walster et al.'s 1966 Computer Dance study at the University of Minnesota found that, despite the matching hypothesis prediction, the single strongest predictor of wanting a second date was the partner's physical attractiveness, not similarity of attractiveness levels.
Exam Focus
Use Walster's Computer Dance as both support and challenge to the matching hypothesis — examiners reward balanced AO3 evaluation.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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