Outline physical attractiveness as a factor affecting attraction in romantic relationships ( 4 marks)

Physical attractiveness refers to how appealing someone is in terms of appearance, often influenced by facial symmetry and body proportions. According to the matching hypothesis, individuals are more likely to form romantic relationships with others who are similar in physical attractiveness to themselves, to reduce the risk of rejection. Walster et al. (1966) found that people preferred partners of similar attractiveness, even if they initially claimed to want the most attractive individuals. Physical attractiveness is also associated with positive traits due to the halo effect, where attractive people are assumed to have more desirable characteristics like kindness or intelligence.