2. Describe the woman in the story. Think about her characteristics as well as her
physical appearance. Give examples from the story.
Answers
.Well if you are curious about what makes a woman physically attractive according to psychologists, I’ll answer that and add on top of it everything I know about the psychology of attraction. ‘Cause why not, I’m sure everyone has plenty of questions about attraction.
According to a psychology class I took in university recently (if you disagree on any of these things, don’t fight me about it, fight psychology on it),
These are the physical features that people tend to find attractive:
1. Facial symmetry
2. Average faces (People evaluate photos, shapes and names more positively if they have encountered them often in the past)
3. Women with waists that are 1/3 narrower than their hips
4. Men with V-shaped physique
5. Women with large eyes, prominent cheekbones, small noses, and a wide smile
6. Men with broad jaws, chiseled features
And these are the 4 predictors for romance:
1. Proximity
The closer people are geographically, the more likely they will become attracted to each other
Mere-repeated Exposure Effect: the tendency for repeated exposure to a stimulus (like another person) to increase our preference for that stimulus
2. Physical Attractiveness
The Halo Effect: attractive people are perceived to be smarter, funnier, and more likeable than less attractive people.
Evolution and reproductive fitness
3. Reciprocity
Positive feedback is self-affirming
Being liked (or the expectation of being liked) leads to positive interpersonal behaviour (a self-fulfilling prophecy)
4. Similarity
Similar attitudes act as reinforcers
Information processing model