Attraction What is Beauty?

Is this Beauty? Venus de Milo Venus of Hohle Fels As each picture comes up have students discuss if they find the person / picture attractive and why. Venus of Hohle Fels 35 000 year old statue Venus de Milo

Is this Beauty? Venus at a Mirror Venus at her Mirror

Is this Beauty? King Henry VIII Prince William

Is this Beauty? Elizabethan Women Modern Tanned Woman

Is this Beauty? Football 1960s Football 2010s

Is this Beauty? Barbie Doll Real Proportions Wonder Woman

Is this Beauty? Original Superman 1940s Superman of 2012

Is this Beauty? Garry Cooper 1920s & 30s Johnny Depp

Is this Beauty? Kate Moss Marilyn Monroe

Is This Beauty? Ryan Gossling Zac Efron

Is This Beauty? Meagan Fox Jessica Alba

Is This Beauty? Robert Pattison Ryan Reynolds

Is This Beauty? Blake Lively Carrie Underwood

Is this Beauty? Nickname - Giraffe Woman African Tribal Woman with Lip Piecing

Why are we Attracted to People? Similarity - We like people who are similar to us in terms of interests, attitudes or experiences.  Differences strengthen a relationship when they are complementary, that is, when each partner's characteristics satisfy the other's needs. Reciprocal attraction - We like people who like us, usually. Gain-loss effect – We like people the most if we feel we have gained in their estimation of us (e.g., if they initially disliked us but now like us), and that we dislike people the most if we feel  we have lost their favour. Have students copy the notes starting here – they may summarize if they prefer.

Why are we Attracted to People? Competence - We like to be around talented people, probably because we hope that their skills and abilities will rub off on us. Disclosure - Revealing important information about yourself can help build liking.  When people share private and personal information with you, it suggests they trust and respect you.

Physical Attraction Physical beauty consists largely of the following factors: Indicators of health Indicators of fertility Indicators of good genes The above factors are common world wide, the final factor that makes beauty unique for every society is cultural preferences

Cultural Preferences Cultural preference will indicate things such as health or breeding age but these will tend to look the same from one society to another One factor that is unique is wealth In rich nations the richer you are the thinner you tend to be In poor countries the richer you are the heavier you tend to be Historically soft pale skin was considered attractive as it meant you were rich enough not to be out in the fields under the sun working. Today tanned hard bodies are considered attractive as it means you are rich enough to have time for holidays in the sun and are healthy.