Social influence, sex differences, and judgments of beauty: Putting the interpersonal back in interpersonal attraction.

Abstract

Four studies (N=711) probed processes that underlie sex differences in attraction. In Study 1, women reported expertise at judging men's physical attractiveness, and this expertise was acknowledged by men. In Study 2, women evaluated physical attractiveness after seeing ratings supposedly made by same-sex peers. Women were influenced by other women's ratings, especially negative ratings. Study 3 indicated that women were influenced by female peers in rating both male and female stimulus persons. There was no evidence that men were influenced by peers. In Study 4, Ss evaluated physically attractive persons of the other sex after reading a detailed description. Women were more influenced by peer evaluations than were men. Results were discussed in terms of sex differences and social influence processes in interpersonal attraction