Pre- and Postinteraction Physical Attractiveness Ratings and Experience-Based Impressions

Pre- and Postinteraction Physical Attractiveness Ratings and Experience-Based Impressions. Jeffrey Hall & Benjamin Compton. Communication Studies, Summer 2017, Pages 260-277. www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10510974.2017.1317281

Abstract: This study examines the perceptions of an interaction partner's physical attractiveness and traits in relation to whether and how partners were evaluated prior to interacting. Sixty-five pairs of heterosexual strangers were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (i.e., prerate photos of opposite-sex strangers including conversation partner, prerate photos excluding partner, no prerate photos). Participants then had a 10-minute interaction, reported impressions of partner, and rated photos again including the partner. Compared to no preinteraction rating, rating conversation partners' attractiveness reduced impressions of partners' social attractiveness, fun/funniness, and charisma. Partner impressions were more strongly associated with postinteraction attractiveness ratings than preinteraction ratings. Impressions of social attractiveness and fun/funniness moderated attractiveness rating change, wherein less attractive partners showed more positive change than attractive partners.

Keywords: Impression Formation, Online Dating, Physical Attraction, Social Attraction