The external validity of the hypothesis that couples come to be matched on physical attractiveness was examined for same and opposite sex pairs of college students in a wide range of natural settings and types of relationships. Correlations between ratings of couples by observers revealed evidence of matching for male friends and for opposite sex friends, dating, and committed couples. No evidence was found for female friends. The implications of these findings for fear of social rejection and exchange explanations of the matching hypothesis and for the normal development of interpersonal relationships are discussed.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
McKillip et al. (1983) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 2 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: