The effect of physiological arousal on perception of attractiveness

Ukalović, Nikola. (2016). The effect of physiological arousal on perception of attractiveness. Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Psychology. [mentor Hromatko, Ivana].

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Abstract

The effect of physiological arousal on emotions has been investigated since 1962, when Schachter and Singer found that the physiological signs caused by one state can be misinterpreted as an unrelated emotional state. The aim of this research was to examine the effects of physiological arousal on the perception of attractiveness, as well as the readiness to begin a short-term or a longterm relationship. We also wanted to establish if gender plays a role in the perception. We hypothesized that, irrespective of the subject’s gender, aroused subjects would assess the attractive individuals as more attractive, and the non-attractive individuals as less attractive than the subjects that were not aroused. We also hypothesized that aroused subjects will be more willing to engage in a long-term, as well as a short-term relationship with the shown individual, regardless of the subject’s sex. The research was conducted in two parts. The preliminary part of the research was conducted online with the purpose of identifying pictures of individuals that are perceived as attractive or non-attractive. The second, main part of the research was conducted in a natural environment. The experimental group (N = 55) comprised of individuals partaking in rafting, while the control group (N= 59) consisted of individuals that were located in a similar environment, but we assumed they were not aroused. The results did not support our hypotheses. No significant interactions were found between arousal, subject gender and the attractiveness of the shown individual on the perception of attractiveness, as well as on the readiness to begin a short-term or a long-term relationship with the shown individual. The methodological problems of this study which could have affected our results are also discussed.

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