Effect of peer influence on attraction to potential partners

Peers influence the people that we are attracted to and who we choose as dating and sexual partners. Peer ratings of attractiveness have been found to alter attractiveness ratings among individuals. Our study examines the effect of peer influence on perceptions of possible dating and sexual partners across genders in college students. Male and female undergraduate students were shown a series of pictures representing potential romantic partners with and without peer ratings of attractiveness. Participants were asked to rate the potential partners on physical attractiveness and likelihood of dating or sexually interacting with the partner. In addition, participants also rated the extent to which the potential partner would find them attractive and desirable as a sexual or dating partner. Individuals shown potential partners deemed highly attractive by peers found the potential partner to be more attractive than partners shown without peer ratings. Higher ratings of attractiveness were also associated with higher likelihood to date the partner for both genders. Lastly, self-desirability as a dating or sexual partner was predicted from appearance self-esteem and appearance comparison self-esteem. Our findings suggest that peer influence affects individuals’ choices in dating and sexual partners among college students. PEER INFLUENCE AND POTENTIAL PARTNERS 4 List of Tables and Figures Table 1: Overall Means and Standard Deviations of Dependent Variables . 40 Table 2: Correlation Matrix for Self-Desirability and Self-Esteem Measures . 41 Figure 1: Gender and Peer Ratings Bar Graph . 42 PEER INFLUENCE AND POTENTIAL PARTNERS 5 Effect of Peer Influence on Attraction to Potential Partners Social interactions influence the selection of partners for romantic relationships. The process of dating and choosing romantic partners is an important task in any individual’s life, but especially for young adults who are the most susceptible to social influence. Social influence is important for college-aged adolescents and young adults when they live for the first time without adult supervision. The lack of adult guidance and constant presence of peers causes young adults’ decisions to be strongly influenced by peer feedback and actions. These young individuals often feel pressure to date or engage in sexual relations due to their peers (Martens et al., 2006). Both men and women react differently to peer pressure and use different factors in choosing potential partners. However, in both genders, peers greatly influence the choices an individual makes when choosing a potential romantic partner. Studies have looked at both the influence of peers’ ratings of physical attractiveness on initial perceptions of attraction, and the differences between how men and women perceive individuals as partners (Castro, Hattori, Yamamoto, & de Araujo Lopes, 2014; Dunn & Doria, 2010). However, the relationship between the two has not been studied. To address this gap in the literature, the aim of the present study is to examine how peer influence and gender differences predict potential partner selection. Predictors of Attraction A variety of predictors of attraction have been studied to determine attraction to a potential partner. These factors vary depending on the individual as well as gender. There are differences between genders, for example, in personality preferences for potential partners. Women tend to prefer partners who are open and conscientious in comparison to PEER INFLUENCE AND POTENTIAL PARTNERS 6 men (Furnham & Tsoi, 2012). However, generally differences between mens’ and womens’ preferences in attraction focus on physical appearance versus resources, respectively (Eastwick & Finkel, 2008; Furnham & Tsoi, 2012). Women tend to prefer partners that have higher levels of education, cognitive ability, wealth, and ambition in comparison to men’s preferences for partners (Furnham & Tsoi, 2012). Women also prefer partners who have better occupations. In comparison, men tend to prefer partners that are more physically attractive and have favorable genetic traits such as good health (Furnham & Tsoi, 2012). There are multiple explanations for the discrepancy in preferences between genders. Evolutionary psychologists have attributed women’s preference for earning potential in a potential partner to subconscious attempts at finding protection for offspring (Eastwick & Finkel, 2008). The need for protection is further reinforced by women’s lengthy investment of personal resources during pregnancy. Men’s preference for physically attractive partners is attributed to subconscious attempts for the development of healthy offspring (Eastwick & Finkel, 2008). Men search for partners who will maximize their chances of having healthy children. In addition, men do not need to search for a partner with resources as they have the potential to reproduce without investing as much as a woman does when she reproduces. Another explanation for the differences in preferences is social role theory. Traditional social norms have constructed men as providers for their families, whereas women have had the role of homemakers (Eagly & Steffen, 1984). According to social role theory, these norms are created from observations of role performance between men and women (Eagly, Wood, & Diekman, 2000). From this perspective, women tend to PEER INFLUENCE AND POTENTIAL PARTNERS 7 seek men who can provide and supply the family with resources because women are viewed as more communal or nurturing and men as more agentic or independent. Therefore, women are socialized to want men who can provide for them, and thus find these partners to be more attractive as a long-term partner. Another predictor of attraction is similarity to the potential partner. Furnham and Tsoi (2012) had men and women fill out questionnaires related to preference of romantic partners. They found that attractiveness, as measured by social skills, body shape, looks, and ambition, was correlated with self-estimated appearance. Their findings suggest that both genders prefer partners that are similar in attractiveness to their own self-perceived attractiveness. This is consistent with the matching phenomenon, which states that people who are similar in levels of physical attractiveness will be attracted to each other for long-term relationships (Takeuchi, 2006). Similarly, both genders also prefer partners who are similar in social status, educational background, and individuals with strong religious or political beliefs value a partner with compatible views (Furnham & Tsoi, 2012). These similarities motivate mate selection and promote compatibility between romantic partners. Overall, compatibility is strongest for individuals with similar social backgrounds, ideological belief systems, and physical characteristics (Furnham & Tsoi, 2012). Strong compatibility and multiple similarities have been found to be a strong predictor of marital quality among romantic relationships (Furnham & Tsoi, 2012). Another factor that influences perceptions of attraction is the halo effect. The halo effect occurs when positive characteristics are automatically attributed to an individual with one favorable trait (Nisbett & Wilson, 1977). For example, if a woman discovers that a potential partner is wealthy then she may believe him to be intelligent, responsible, PEER INFLUENCE AND POTENTIAL PARTNERS 8 and driven. This may make him a more appealing romantic partner. The halo effect is also often applied to physical attractiveness such that those who are physically attractive are often more likable and worthy of praise (Anderson & Nida, 1978). This effect is much stronger with the opposite sex than within the same sex (Anderson & Nida, 1978). This may be an explanation for men’s desire for physically attractive long-term romantic partners. If peers influence an individual to regard a potential partner as highly attractive, then the individual may view that potential partner as more appealing as a result of the halo effect. Overall, men and women differ in terms of criteria for short and long term romantic partners. Due to these differences, using peers to influence how attractive a potential partner is to an individual may change the perceptions of the potential partner as either a short or long-term partner differently across genders. Peer Conformity to Attraction Many studies have examined how peer feedback augments perceptions of attractiveness to a potential partner (e.g., Dunn & Doria, 2010; Waynforth, 2007). However, women use peers’ information pertaining to attraction of a potential partner more so than men. Dunn & Doria (2010) found that when women were exposed to a photograph depicting a male surrounded by interested females, the male’s physical attractiveness increased in comparison to the same male standing alone. This increase is even more prevalent if the partner is viewed as highly attractive (Waynforth, 2007; Yorzinski & Platt, 2010). This effect has been described as an act of mate-choice copying. Women engage in mate-choice copying when they view a man as more attractive when he is already in a committed relationship or when other women find him to be attractive. Women are also more willing to engage in a long-term relationship with PEER INFLUENCE AND POTENTIAL PARTNERS 9 the man featured in the photograph with a highly attractive partner than a man either alone or with an unattractive partner. Studies have even found evidence to suggest that women rate a man as more physically attractive if he is wearing a wedding band (Waynforth, 2007). In addition to mate-choice copying, women have also been found to augment physical attractiveness ratings depending on peer ratings. That is, if peers rate an individual as highly attractive, women are more likely to believe the individual is attractive and inflate their corresponding physi