social experiment

[counterman]

So, I saw this on Oprah last year about this social experiment that I found quite fascinating. I don't know if anyone has posted this, so since it has stuck with me until now, I will share it with you.

 

10 men and 10 women of different levels of attractiveness were brought together. Each of them were assigned a value from 1 to 10 based on their relative attractiveness (10 being the most attractive and 1 being the least; Brad Pitt is a 9 point something as a comparison). What is defined attractive is taking in account facial features that scientists deemed attractive. No two people can have the same number. Now, they were not told what level they were assigned. Each were dressed in the same type of clothing, of which all was black. They were placed in a room and the given objective was for each of them to find a partner of the opposite sex.

 

Here's what I found interesting. Each person had a partner that was within 1 attractiveness levels from their own. So, for example, the person assigned 4 had a partner that was 3, 4 or 5. People looked for others that are similar in attractiveness. Also, the girls assigned 9 and 10 did not actively pursue the guys but rather stood there filtered out the ones they didn't want. This showed that they had more options and so can be pickier. On the contrary, for those with lower attractiveness levels, they know they are not as attractive when they get rejected.

 

Other things that factor into this is that woman lower their standards of physical attractiveness if the man has more income or social status.

 

What do you guys think? Is it true that we seek partners that of similar attractiveness to us?

[runner]

perhaps not consciously, but yes i think there is a lot of truth to that. but i wouldn't be so quick to call that scientific fact

[ADF]

I didn't see that particular episode of Oprah, but similar experiments have yielded similar results. Our culture places a premium on looks and social status (as do most cultures). That people weigh those factors when choosing mates is not surprising.

 

However, there is one problem with experiements like this. In real life, we don't meet people under such controlled conditions, nor are we presented with such clear cut criteria for choosing mates. I suspect the more people took part in an experiement like this, and the more selection factors were introduced, the more complicated the picture would become. But it is interesting.

[lora22]

What do you guys think? Is it true that we seek partners that of similar attractiveness to us?

Generally, I think so, but I don't think it's because most people are consciously aware of levels of attractiveness, I think it's because we subconsciously seek people who look like us.

[i'mfaraway]

I've seen 10s and 2s before so I wouldn't think the studies apply to 100 percent of the human race.

 

Or maybe to the 10s, the 2s are actually 9s. Or the 10s are actually 3s to the 2s. Beauty is in the eye of the beholders.

[zebracolors]

To heck with numbers rating game! Well, for me anyway. I don't go by it because my idea of what to me is perfection will not be shared by all women. Only using numbers here as an example, but the kind of guy I would find to be a 9-10 in my eyes might only be a 4-5 in other women's eyes.

[Johnny M]

Generally, I think so, but I don't think it's because most people are consciously aware of levels of attractiveness, I think it's because we subconsciously seek people who look like us.

I totally disagree with this. No one looks for a mate who looks them. I mean, how is that even possible, given the obvious differences in appearance between men and women.

 

Most [reasonable] people are roughly aware of where they stand on the attractiveness scale. Those who are not are either delusional or lack sufficient social interaction with other humans to develop such understanding. Because a) everyone wants to date someone who is at least equivalent to them on the attractiveness scale and b) no one wants to date someone who is below them, things have a natural way of sorting themselves out, resulting in people with similar attractiveness levels ending up with each other.

 

Obviously, this is not a perfect system. If you live in an area where there is a shortage of men or women, the results will be skewed. Ditto for small communities where there is a very limited pool of people to chose from.

[lora22]

I totally disagree with this. No one looks for a mate who looks them. I mean, how is that even possible, given the obvious differences in appearance between men and women.

 

I don't think you can argue that men and women don't share similar characteristics, such as hair color, eye color, skin tone, narrow vs. full features, face shape, slender bone structure vs. big boned, etc.

[Johnny M]

I don't think you can argue that men and women don't share similar characteristics, such as hair color, eye color, skin tone, narrow vs. full features, face shape, slender bone structure vs. big boned, etc.

So you're saying that a rugged looking, muscular man with brown hair, green eyes, and a square jaw would be most attracted to a rugged looking, muscular woman with brown hair, green eyes and a square jaw (as opposed to, say, a slender blonde with delicate facial features?)

 

If that's what you're saying, it's a rather unique theory that I haven't seen any proof of in the real world.

[lora22]

So you're saying that a rugged looking, muscular man with brown hair, green eyes, and a square jaw could be attracted to a woman with brown hair, green eyes and a square jaw.

Edited to be less extreme and more along the lines of what I was thinking. I don't think that my opinion is the be all and end all; it's just one opinion, and it's only one factor that has anything to do with attraction.

 

Pretty much the same thing as being drawn to people who look like one of the other of our parents (I'm sure you've heard of those studies). We tend to look like our parents; if we are attracted to people with features and/or coloring similar to our parents, it stands to reason that we are attracted to people who look like us (are familiar to us).

 

However, the OP posted a very simplistic study, so I was giving a simplistic answer in the same spirit.

 

Here's another example:

I have a a high forehead, narrow face, fuller lips and dark hair. I have a slender bone structure and athletic build. I tend to be attracted to men who also have those features. Of course I don't think it's as simple as that. But I think it plays a part.

[Johnny M]

Edited to be less extreme and more along the lines of what I was thinking. I don't think that my opinion is the be all and end all; it's just one opinion, and it's only one factor that has anything to do with attraction.

 

Pretty much the same thing as being drawn to people who look like one of the other of our parents (I'm sure you've heard of those studies). We tend to look like our parents; if we are attracted to people with features and/or coloring similar to our parents, it stands to reason that we are attracted to people who look like us (are familiar to us).

 

However, the OP posted a very simplistic study, so I was giving a simplistic answer in the same spirit.

 

Here's another example:

I have a a high forehead, narrow face, fuller lips and dark hair. I have a slender bone structure and athletic build. I tend to be attracted to men who also have those features. Of course I don't think it's as simple as that. But I think it plays a part.

I can't agree with your edited version either. I never noticed people being drawn to members of the opposite sex with the same hair and eye color as them. In fact, it seems that women tend to favor men wit dark hair, while men tend to prefer blondes (although hair color is of secondary importance to most people and eye color is even less important). Also, pretty much all men (from skinny musician types to gorilla-like bouncer types) like women with slender bone structure and delicate facial features.

[lora22]

I can't agree with your edited version either. I never noticed people being drawn to members of the opposite sex with the same hair and eye color as them. In fact, it seems that women tend to favor men wit dark hair, while men tend to prefer blondes (although hair color is of secondary importance to most people and eye color is even less important). Also, pretty much all men (from skinny musician types to gorilla-like bouncer types) like women with slender bone structure and delicate facial features.

 

I think you're taking what I'm saying way too literally, and ignoring key parts of my posts.

 

Duly noted that you disagree with my opinion.

[Bejita463]

I'd link it if I remembered where it was, but I do not, and am too lazy to go find it. Having said that...

 

I have seen a study performed where a small sample of people were brought in and shown pictures of the opposite sex and asked to select the one they found most attractive. What they weren't told is that someone had taken the time to take a picture of the subjects themselves and modify it so that the picture ended up looking like a member of the opposite sex, recognizable as them, if you knew. Every one of them picked the opposite sex version of their own picture, and not one said they recognized it was their own picture, modified.

 

How well that would stand up with a larger sample size, I do not know, but the theory that people look for common physical traits in a partner is not all that ludicrous.

[lora22]

 

How well that would stand up with a larger sample size, I do not know, but the theory that people look for common physical traits in a partner is not all that ludicrous.

 

Interesting study, I might try to find it.

 

In regards to this last, thank you!! Type "are we attracted to people who look like us" or similar into any search engine and you will find that this is far from ludicrous and unheard of.

 

here's just one example: http://whyfiles.org/2009/are-people-attracted-to-people-who-look-like-them/

[Bejita463]

In regards to this last, thank you!! Type "are we attracted to people who look like us" or similar into any search engine and you will find that this is far from ludicrous and unheard of.

 

That is exactly why I am too lazy to try to find it. I tried once after having read it, and kept finding other similar studies, but not the one with the altered pictures.