O coping strategies o relation of initial

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Coping strategies
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Relation of initial satisfaction to longevity

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Top-down vs. Bottom-up processing
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Two routes to social perception
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Bottom-up processing
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Perceptions guided by stimuli [and not by our current desires]
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Input comes from outside; Guided by external factors
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Scientists prefer to engage in bottom-up processing as much as possible. (e.g.
double blind studies, blinding research participants to hypotheses, etc.)
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Top-down processing
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Perceptions guided by perceiver
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Existing mental representations shape how we view the world.
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Input comes from inside the perceiver.
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Method in which we typically interact with/view the world (e.g. political
arguments)
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Example of top-down processing
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How does your mood or other temporary states affect the way you perceive your
relationships?
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Ex: Date arrives 30 minutes late
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Your mood
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Good mood: No big deal; Caught in traffic
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Bad mood: Inconsiderate; Doesn’t care
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Your current goals
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Closeness goal: Person is trying to distance themselves from you as
an indication that they don’t care about your goals
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Distance goal: No problem
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How does your personality and other chronic states affect the way you perceive
relationships?
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Ex: Boyfriend/girlfriend forgets your anniversary
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Your self-esteem
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High: No big deal; Just stressed out about school
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Low: Partner doesn’t love you; Romance is gone
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Video: “The Science of Sex Appeal”

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*Sexual attraction is NOT arbitrary.
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Women have a more complex sexual agenda than men.
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Facial features
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Golden ratio- Relative size of small part : big part is equivalent to the size of the big part :
whole.
o Analysis does not discriminate between genders.
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Female v. male
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Thinner brow (female)
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Squared jaw (male)
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Masculinity v. femininity is related to levels of testosterone v. progesterone/estrogen.
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Symmetry
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Determined by prenatal events
o Response to physical clues about genetic health (i.e. femininity, symmetry, fertility, etc.)
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Women tend to look more attractive when they are ovulating.
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Body shape
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Breasts indicate passage through puberty, thus drawing attention [in regards to sexual
maturity/reproductive capability].
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Clothing, makeup, etc. can inhibit true factors in determining levels of attraction.
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Ideal female feature: Waist 7/10 as wide as the hips.
o 6/10-5/10 is “more attractive”; however, such extremes would inhibit child-bearing
ability in real life.
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Our brains assess attractiveness of the body as it moves.
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Most attractive stances for both the observer and the observed:

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Straight torso/shoulder swagger (males)
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Curvaceous body/hip swing (females)
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“Sexy strut” indicates healthy genes, which allow for reproduction (gene survival).
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We don’t always snag a “perfect 10”- rather, we settle for what we can get.
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Individuals with “higher numbers” receive more offers/advances from others and are therefore
able to hold out longer.