oCoping strategiesoRelation of initial satisfaction to longevity
°°Top-down vs. Bottom-up processingTwo routes to social perceptionoBottom-up processingPerceptions guided by stimuli [and not by our current desires]Input comes from outside; Guided by external factorsScientists prefer to engage in bottom-up processing as much as possible. (e.g. double blind studies, blinding research participants to hypotheses, etc.)oTop-down processingPerceptions guided by perceiverExisting mental representations shape how we view the world.Input comes from inside the perceiver.Method in which we typically interact with/view the world (e.g. political arguments)Example of top-down processingoHow does your mood or other temporary states affect the way you perceive your relationships?Ex: Date arrives 30 minutes lateYour moodGood mood: No big deal; Caught in trafficBad mood: Inconsiderate; Doesn’t careYour current goalsCloseness goal: Person is trying to distance themselves from you asan indication that they don’t care about your goalsDistance goal: No problemoHow does your personality and other chronic states affect the way you perceive relationships?Ex: Boyfriend/girlfriend forgets your anniversaryYour self-esteemHigh: No big deal; Just stressed out about schoolLow: Partner doesn’t love you; Romance is gone°
Video: “The Science of Sex Appeal”
°*Sexual attraction is NOT arbitrary.°Women have a more complex sexual agenda than men.°Facial featuresGolden ratio- Relative size of small part : big part is equivalent to the size of the big part : whole.oAnalysis does not discriminate between genders.Female v. maleoThinner brow (female)oSquared jaw (male)oMasculinity v. femininity is related to levels of testosterone v. progesterone/estrogen.SymmetryoDetermined by prenatal eventsoResponse to physical clues about genetic health (i.e. femininity, symmetry, fertility, etc.)oWomen tend to look more attractive when they are ovulating.°Body shapeBreasts indicate passage through puberty, thus drawing attention [in regards to sexual maturity/reproductive capability].Clothing, makeup, etc. can inhibit true factors in determining levels of attraction.Ideal female feature: Waist 7/10 as wide as the hips.o6/10-5/10 is “more attractive”; however, such extremes would inhibit child-bearing ability in real life.Our brains assess attractiveness of the body as it moves.oMost attractive stances for both the observer and the observed:
Straight torso/shoulder swagger (males)Curvaceous body/hip swing (females)o“Sexy strut” indicates healthy genes, which allow for reproduction (gene survival).°We don’t always snag a “perfect 10”- rather, we settle for what we can get.Individuals with “higher numbers” receive more offers/advances from others and are therefore able to hold out longer.