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Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
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Meeting Your Match: How Attractiveness Similarity Affects Approach Behavior in Mixed-Sex Dyads

Ischa van Straaten

Radboud University Nijmegen

Rutger C. M. E. Engels

Radboud University Nijmegen, R.Engels{at}bsi.ru.nl

Catrin Finkenauer

Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam

Rob W. Holland

Radboud University Nijmegen

This experimental study investigated approach behavior toward opposite-sex others of similar versus dissimilar physical attractiveness. Furthermore, it tested the moderating effects of sex. Single participants interacted with confederates of high and low attractiveness. Observers rated their behavior in terms of relational investment (i.e., behavioral efforts related to the improvement of interaction fluency, communication of positive interpersonal affect, and positive self-presentation). As expected, men displayed more relational investment behavior if their own physical attractiveness was similar to that of the confederate. For women, no effects of attractiveness similarity on relational investment behavior were found. Results are discussed in the light of positive assortative mating, preferences for physically attractive mates, and sex differences in attraction-related interpersonal behaviors.

Key Words: physical attractiveness • similarity • interpersonal behavior • mixed-sex dyads • assortative mating

This version was published on June 1, 2009

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 35, No. 6, 685-697 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0146167209332965
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