Perceptions and meta-perceptions of self and partner physical attractiveness

Abstract

This study examined self- and partner-ratings of physical attractiveness, as well as meta-perceptions of attractiveness (what participants believed their partners thought about themselves and about the respondents). A total of 362 individuals provided self- and partner-ratings and completed measures of love styles, sociosexuality, self-esteem, and relationship-related variables. Results showed that participants rated their participants as more attractive than themselves, but also believed their partners held similarly biased perceptions. Further analyses showed that these ratings were significantly associated with individual difference variables, particularly romantic love and relationship satisfaction. These results are discussed in relation to previous work on the ‘love-is-blind’ bias.