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Attractiveness and relationship longevity: Beauty is not what it is cracked up to be
Author(s) -
MAKELLAMS CHRISTINE,
WANG MARGARET C.,
CARDIEL HANNAH
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
personal relationships
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.81
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1475-6811
pISSN - 1350-4126
DOI - 10.1111/pere.12173
Subject(s) - derogation , attractiveness , psychology , physical attractiveness , social psychology , sample (material) , vulnerability (computing) , beauty , developmental psychology , computer security , political science , chemistry , chromatography , computer science , psychoanalysis , law
Across four studies, we examined the relational repercussions of physical attractiveness ( PA ). Study 1 ( n = 238) found that those rated as more attractive in high school yearbooks were married for shorter durations and more likely to divorce. Study 2 ( n = 130) replicated these effects using a different sample (high‐profile celebrities). Study 3 ( n = 134) examined the link between PA and the derogation of attractive alternatives, a relationship maintenance strategy. Study 4 ( n = 156) experimentally manipulated perceived PA and examined its relation with both derogation of attractive alternatives and current relationship satisfaction. PA predicted likelihood of relationship dissolution and decreased derogation of attractive alternatives. Furthermore, PA predicted greater vulnerability to relationship threats—in this case, relationship alternatives—resulting from poor relationship satisfaction.