“Thin slicing”: How first impressions matter
Judging personality traits (Willis & Todorov, 2006)
Ppts. saw pictures of faces at various durationsAttractiveness, likeability, competence,
trustworthiness, aggressiveness1/10 of a second correlated with judgments
without time limitsStrongest results for trustworthinessIn another study: ppts predict winning and
loosing political candidates from pictures
“Thin slicing”: How first impressions matter
Teacher evaluations (Ambady & Rosenthal, 1993)
10, 5, 2 sec. long videotape of prof’s teaching…predicted student evaluations at the end of
term
“Thin slicing”: How first impressions matter
Do people agree on first impressions?Yes
The 1 million $ chicken-egg question:
Lecture Outline
1) The Psychology of attraction Propinquity Similarity Physical attractiveness Mate preferences
Propinquity
Explanations of Propinquity Effects Availability encourages interactions Anticipating Interactions produces warm
feelings The Mere Exposure Effect: repeated
exposure breeds familiarity, which encourages liking
Mere Exposure Effect
Does not need conscious reflection—same effect with subliminal exposure
One psychological factor as to why advertising works
Similarity
Similarity breeds attraction
“birds of a feather…” Engaged couples study “Bogus Stranger” studies
What about opposites attract? Yes, few exceptions Sexual attraction A few personality traits (dominant/submissive,
talkative/quiet, nurturing/needy
Why Does Similarity Encourage Attraction?
Social validation Smooth social interactions We Expect Similar Others to Like Us Similar Others Have Qualities We Like
Physical Attractiveness: Important feature of first impressions
”Halo effect”: belief that attractive people possess other positive qualities Attractive people earn more Attractive defendants are less likely to be
convicted, and receive lighter sentences Men more likely to come to aid of
attractive females Essays attributed to attractive author
evaluated more favorably Etc.
Origins of Physical Attractiveness
Is it arbitrary cultural convention or are there innate preferences?
Cultural aspect #1: Thinness
Origins of Physical Attractiveness
Is it arbitrary cultural convention or are there innate preferences?
Cultural aspect #1: Thinness Cultural aspect #2: Skin tone
Origins of Physical Attractiveness
Innate aspect Babies look longer at what adults consider to be
attractive faces Video clip
Cross cultural agreement on attractive faces
Origins of Physical Attractiveness
Innate architecture of physical attractiveness
Bilateral symmetry (facial and bodily) is attractive Average faces are attractive (Langlois & Roggman,
1990) Healthy skin is attractive In general, features that were associated with
reproductive health in the ancestral environment are considered attractive
Mate Preferences (rank) by gender in 37 cultures
Trait M F
Mutual attraction 1 1
Dependable character 2 2
Maturity 3 3
Good health 5 7
Sociability 7 6
Good looks 10 13
Gender Differences in Mate Preferences
There are reliable gender differences in mate preferences--drum rolls, please
On average, men prefer physical attractiveness and youth more than women
On average, women prefer status and older age more than men
Warning: the naturalistic fallacy
Largest and Smallest gender differences
Chastity: Large cultural variation and unreliable or no gender differences
Good financial prospects: large gender differences and little cultural variation
Gender Differences in Mate Preferences
Parental investment theory
Evolution has instilled in men and women desires that are advantageous to their reproductive success
Biologically, women invest more in their offspring then men
Women are the choosier gender in humans
Women should prefer men with resources
Men should prefer fertility (youthful appearance)
Gender Differences in Mate Preferences
Is the parental investment predictions anything more than common sense?
cross-species comparisons (the Panamanian poison-arrow frog, hyenas, emperor penguins)
Cross culturally universal
but also large cultural variation—overall more cultural differences than gender differences
Gender inequality correlated with the size of the gender difference in preference for status (Eagly and Wood)
Gender Differences in Mate Preferences
Is the parental investment predictions anything more than common sense?
Ovulating women find masculine men more attractive
but this is not exactly derived from parental investment theory
Some Conclusions about Gender Differences in Mate Preferences
Systematic average gender differences predicted by parental investment theory
Cultural context plays more important role than gender for all other traits
Complex interaction of life history, culture, and gender-specific preferences
Naturalistic fallacy—evolutionary explanation is not moral justification!
Passionate vs. companionate love (Berscheild & Walster)
Passionate love Intense longing, ecstasy/despair Intense but brief Like a drug, a burning fire
Companionate love Feelings of intimacy, care, connection Slow growing but long lasting Like vines growing and intertwining, binding
The myth of eternal passion
Love and Marriage across Cultures (Levine et al, 1995)
If a man (woman) had all other qualities you desired, would you marry this person if you were not in love? (% AGREE)
Patna, Fresno, Birm, Kyoto HKIndia Calif UK JP49% 3.5% 7.3% 2.3% 5.8%
Love and Marriage across Cultures (Levine et al, 1995)
If love has completely disappeared from a marriage, OK for couple to make a clean break and start new lives? (% AGREE)
Patna, Fresno, Birm, Kyoto HKIndia Calif UK JP46% 35% 45% 41% 47%
Time (6 months)
Inte
nsity
Companionate
Passionate
Danger points
From: Haidt, The Happiness Hypothesis
Two Loves, Two Errors