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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
07:40

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Published on: May 31, 2021

Evaluating self and partner physical attractiveness.

Viren Swami1, Adrian Furnham, Chrissa Georgiades

  • 1Division of Public Health, University of Liverpool, Whelan Building, Quadrangle, Liverpool L69 3GB, UK. virenswami@hotmail.com

Body Image
|December 20, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Participants rated partners as more attractive than themselves, with body weight and facial features being key predictors of overall physical attractiveness. Gender differences emerged in self-assessments of attractiveness.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Human Perception

Background:

  • Understanding self-perception and partner perception in physical attractiveness is crucial.
  • Previous research has explored factors influencing attractiveness ratings, but novel approaches are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate gender differences in self and partner physical attractiveness ratings.
  • To identify key predictors of overall physical attractiveness.

Main Methods:

  • A novel questionnaire was administered to 72 men and 83 women.
  • Participants rated their own and their opposite-sex partner's overall attractiveness and specific body parts.
  • Six additional questions assessed physical attractiveness perceptions.

Main Results:

  • Significant gender differences were found in self-estimates of facial and upper body attractiveness.
  • Participants consistently rated their partners as more attractive than themselves, irrespective of gender.
  • Body weight and facial attractiveness emerged as the strongest predictors of overall physical attractiveness.

Conclusions:

  • Self-perception of attractiveness differs between genders, particularly for facial and upper body features.
  • A general tendency exists to perceive partners as more attractive than oneself.
  • Body weight and facial aesthetics significantly influence overall physical attractiveness judgments, with potential implications for social biases.