Question

In the study by Kenrick and Gutierres (1980), exposing male subjects to a TV show dominated by extremely beautiful women: A. had no effect on their ratings of the attractiveness of a prospective date B. increased their ratings of the attractiveness of a prospective date. C. decreased their ratings of the attractiveness of a prospective date. D. increased their ratings of their own attractiveness.

Short answer

Answer: C. Exposure to the TV show decreased their ratings of the attractiveness of a prospective date.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the background of the study

Kenrick and Gutierres conducted a study where male participants were exposed to a TV show where they saw extremely beautiful women. The aim was to analyze how this exposure affected their ratings of the attractiveness of a potential date.

Assess the given options

We have four options to choose the correct answer from, which are: A. Exposure to the TV show had no effect on their ratings of the attractiveness of a prospective date. B. Exposure to the TV show increased their ratings of the attractiveness of a prospective date. C. Exposure to the TV show decreased their ratings of the attractiveness of a prospective date. D. Exposure to the TV show increased their ratings of their own attractiveness.

Evaluate the options based on the study

According to the study by Kenrick and Gutierres (1980), after being exposed to the TV show, the male participants compared the attractiveness of potential dates to the very attractive women they saw on the TV show.

Choose the correct answer

As the male participants were comparing the potential dates to the extremely beautiful women on the TV show, it most likely decreased their ratings of the attractiveness of a prospective date. So, the correct answer is: C. Exposure to the TV show decreased their ratings of the attractiveness of a prospective date.

Key concepts

Kenrick and Gutierres Study

The study by Kenrick and Gutierres in 1980 sought to explore how exposure to high standards of beauty, as depicted in the media, affects individual perceptions of attractiveness. They focused this experiment on male subjects, who were shown a TV show with exceptionally attractive women, and then asked to rate the attractiveness of a prospective date. The research question was rooted in social comparison theory, where individuals assess their own values and abilities by comparing themselves with others.

In this case, the comparison involved attractiveness and set a high bar for mundane reality. The implications of their findings provide insight into how media consumption could potentially warp one's perception of an 'average' person's attractiveness—a concept still relevant today with the prevalence of Photoshop and filters on social media platforms.

Attractiveness Rating

Attractiveness rating is a subjective measure in which people assess the appeal of another person's physical appearance. This rating can be influenced by a range of factors, including personal preferences, societal standards, and comparative situations, as observed in Kenrick and Gutierres's study. Ratings are not stable and can fluctuate based on the context in which individuals are making their assessments. For instance, the study's results suggest that encountering highly attractive individuals, even if it's through media, can skew one's rating scale, leading to viewing potential dates as less attractive compared to the exemplars seen on screen.

Media Influence on Perception

Media influence on perception is a widespread psychological effect, where the information we consume through television, movies, the internet, and other forms of media shapes our beliefs, values, and perceptions. Be it beauty standards, success metrics, or lifestyle choices, the omnipresent media sets benchmarks that people often inadvertently aim to meet.

Kenrick and Gutierres's study underscores this phenomenon by demonstrating how even a brief exposure to media portraying highly attractive individuals can alter a person's judgment regarding attractiveness. This effect is heightened in today's digital age, where the bombardment of curated and often unrealistic images leads to issues like body dissatisfaction and the perpetuation of unattainable beauty ideals.