The Impact of Intelligence on Initial Attraction Among High and Low Risk-Takers

Presentation Type

Poster

Keywords

risk, attraction, self-perception, similarity, dissimilarity, intelligence

Department

Psychology

Major

Psychology

Abstract

This study attempted to examine whether a person’s level of risk-taking behavior would impact initial levels of attraction depending on perceptions of similarity in intelligence to a person of the opposite sex. Participants were randomly assigned to receive one of three intelligence profiles (e.g., high, medium, low) of a fellow opposite-sex college student and asked to rate their level of attractiveness. The effects of intelligence level were examined by level of risk-taking on attractiveness scores. A convenience sample of 217 heterosexual and cisgender undergraduates from a private Christian liberal arts university in California were included in this research. Results showed that risk-taking behavior significantly predicted views of attraction. More specifically, there were significant mean differences between high and low risk-takers on how attractive they rated the student depending on his/her perceived intelligence level. Explanations connected to how these findings relate to perceptions of similarity are discussed. Results from this study provide new insights toward the relationship between risk-taking behavior and human attraction and helps further understanding of social choice in regard to relationships.

Faculty Mentor

Cindy Miller-Perrin

Funding Source or Research Program

Not Identified

Location

Waves Cafeteria

Start Date

23-3-2018 2:00 PM

End Date

23-3-2018 3:30 PM

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Mar 23rd, 2:00 PM Mar 23rd, 3:30 PM

The Impact of Intelligence on Initial Attraction Among High and Low Risk-Takers

Waves Cafeteria

This study attempted to examine whether a person’s level of risk-taking behavior would impact initial levels of attraction depending on perceptions of similarity in intelligence to a person of the opposite sex. Participants were randomly assigned to receive one of three intelligence profiles (e.g., high, medium, low) of a fellow opposite-sex college student and asked to rate their level of attractiveness. The effects of intelligence level were examined by level of risk-taking on attractiveness scores. A convenience sample of 217 heterosexual and cisgender undergraduates from a private Christian liberal arts university in California were included in this research. Results showed that risk-taking behavior significantly predicted views of attraction. More specifically, there were significant mean differences between high and low risk-takers on how attractive they rated the student depending on his/her perceived intelligence level. Explanations connected to how these findings relate to perceptions of similarity are discussed. Results from this study provide new insights toward the relationship between risk-taking behavior and human attraction and helps further understanding of social choice in regard to relationships.