Discuss psychological research into interpersonal attraction

... DISCUSS PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH INTO INTERPERSONAL ATTRACTION The main explanations relating to interpersonal attraction are physical attraction, attitude similarity and proximity (frequency of interaction). Many studies have been carried out to find out what people may find attractive and why people may date someone similar to themselves in terms of physical attractiveness. Singh(1993) claims that the more curvaceous the female the more attractive she is perceived, due to a portrayal of fertility and 'child bearing hips'. Gangestad claimed that the more symmetrical the face the more attractive it is perceived to be, as people get older they become less symmetrical so this could be a sign of youthfulness. The Sociobiological theory says that for men youth and attractiveness are important in women as they are good signs or healthy reproductive potential. Ellis found that taller men are perceived as more desirable dates than shorter men in western societies however there have been many

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