The Effect of Arousal on Attraction: Physical Characteristics and Non-Physical Characteristics

1. The Effect of Arousal on Attraction: Physical Characteristics and Non-Physical Characteristics By: Paige Coulter-Kern Scott Samale

2. Introduction • The Misattribution Theory • Dutton and Aron (1974) Bridge-attraction study • Participants on a high bridge were more likely to ask a confederate on a date. • Confound: Not random assignment • White, Fishbein, & Rutsein (1981). Exercise-attraction study • Used random assignment, removed confound • Polarization effect

3. Hypothesis • Arousal: • Amplification of the dominant response? • Based on previous research • When aroused: yes • When not aroused: no • Neglect of mitigating information about a romantic partner? • Our hypothesis: • When aroused: yes • When not aroused: no

4. Introduction • Example: Passionate vs. Companionate love • Passionate love: Arousal amplification of attractiveness • Companionate love: Intimacy, friendship • Sprecher (2001) Honeymoon stage • Are people “blinded” by arousal in the beginning? • Amplification of arousal causes people to neglect mitigating information?

5. Methods • Stimuli: • Attractive and unattractive faces • Two databases + friends’ edited photos (with consent) • All Caucasian • Pre-tested for attractiveness in an online survey • Traits • Buss, Shackelford, Kirkpatrick, & Larsen (2001) • Mate preferences) • 8 Positive traits for each gender • 8 negative (reversed) traits for each gender • Two traits per face, both positive or negative

6. Methods • Stimuli/trait combinations: • Two of each combination (8 total) • Different for each gender

7. This person has a strong character and is very dependable. • This person is very healthy, and rarely gets ill.

8. This person is emotionally unstable and is often described as being immature for her age. • This person is unhealthy, and gets sick often.

9. This person has control over his emotions and is often described as being very mature for his age. • This person is ambitious, he has goals and he achieves them.

10. This person has a displeasing disposition and tends to rub people the wrong way. • This person is unhealthy, and gets sick often.

11. Methods • 54 participants • College age • Ethnicity: • 92% Caucasian • 2% African American • 4% Asian • 2% Pacific Islander • Gender: 50% male, 50% female

12. Procedure/Design

13. You just found out you are going on a blind date with this person. How happy are you? 1=not very much at all; 6=very much, Please Circle Your Answer • Person 1: • 1 2 3 4 5 6 • Person 2: • 1 2 3 4 5 6 • Person 3: • 1 2 3 4 5 6…………………………….. • Person 23: • 1 2 3 4 5 6 • Person 24: • 1 2 3 4 5 6 • Person 25: • 1 2 3 4 5 6

14. Results and Discussion • Mixed ANOVA with repeated measures on the last 3 factors: 3 x 2 x 2 x 2 • Condition (3) • Desirability of traits (2) • Attractiveness of face (2) • Time (2)

17. Results and Discussion

18. Discussion: Limitations • Stimuli: • We had a limited number of photographs that got rated as very attractive • Ratings of attractive and unattractive faces was similar to avoid a floor effect • Heart rate: ineffective way to measure arousal • Not standardized

19. Discussion: Future Directions • Further research on other types of arousal • Shock is an aversive type of arousal, and produces anxiety and fear, exercise was not • What effects might other types of arousal have? • Anger? • Excitement?