While the exact definition of attraction and attractiveness differ between psychologists, many researchers have decided on physical attractiveness as being the overall look of a person, rated on a quantitative scale. There is often a focus on facial features by researchers (Morrow, 1990). This essay will describe and evaluate the way in which physical and psychological determinants can affect attraction and attractiveness. Most theories sit on either side of the nature and nurture debate, with biological factors such as gender being seen to influence the perception of attractiveness and more social theories focusing on culture. Despite this, many cultural explanations find their roots in biological and evolutionary explanations, suggesting a biological basis for physical attractiveness. The difference in Mark and Donna’s opinion of Rose may come from the fact that one is male and one is female, an idea based on the premise of biological and evolutionary theories of attraction. Men and women …show more content…
If it is to be expected that people from the same culture are also from the same ethnic group, then it offers an insight into why this might influence on attractiveness. People tend to find people from their ethnic group more attractive that those from others (Liu, Campbell & Codnie, 1995). A large basis of this comes from the fact that people from your ethnic group is likely to share the same personality traits as some are central to your culture. These ideas have been coined ‘The Law of Attraction’, in which people are more attracted to those who share their attitudes (Clore & Byrne, 1974). This is because another person displaying the same personality trait as you, reinforces your perception of yourself. Assuming once again that Mark and Rose are from the same culture, Rose displaying traits like Mark’s will reinforce his own self-image and, in turn, he will find Rose