TY - JOUR
T1 - Experimental Examination and Extension of the Cheerleader Effect
AU - McDowell, Jacqueline
AU - Starratt, Valerie G
PY - 2019/9/1
Y1 - 2019/9/1
N2 - Mate value – the assessment of one's potential worth as a sexual or romantic partner – is influenced by a variety of factors both intrinsic and extrinsic to the individual being evaluated. One of these extrinsic factors, the appearance of the potential partner in a group setting rather than alone, has been shown to increase a person's mate value as assessed via physical attractiveness, a circumstance dubbed the cheerleader effect . The current study provides additional support for this effect with a conceptual replication demonstrating an increase in ratings of targets when those targets are presented in a group compared to when presented singly. However, this effect is moderated by several factors, including target sex, target baseline level of attractiveness, the level of attractiveness of the members of the group, and whether the target is being rated on physical attractiveness or overall value as a short-term or long-term partner. In short, the cheerleader effect was evident for ratings of female attractiveness and ratings of male and female value as romantic partners, but then only when (a) the group contained at least some highly attractive individuals and (b) the individuals being evaluated met a minimum level of attractiveness.
AB - Mate value – the assessment of one's potential worth as a sexual or romantic partner – is influenced by a variety of factors both intrinsic and extrinsic to the individual being evaluated. One of these extrinsic factors, the appearance of the potential partner in a group setting rather than alone, has been shown to increase a person's mate value as assessed via physical attractiveness, a circumstance dubbed the cheerleader effect . The current study provides additional support for this effect with a conceptual replication demonstrating an increase in ratings of targets when those targets are presented in a group compared to when presented singly. However, this effect is moderated by several factors, including target sex, target baseline level of attractiveness, the level of attractiveness of the members of the group, and whether the target is being rated on physical attractiveness or overall value as a short-term or long-term partner. In short, the cheerleader effect was evident for ratings of female attractiveness and ratings of male and female value as romantic partners, but then only when (a) the group contained at least some highly attractive individuals and (b) the individuals being evaluated met a minimum level of attractiveness.
KW - cheerleader effect
KW - long-term value
KW - mate value
KW - physical attractiveness
KW - replication
KW - short-term value
UR - https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/1853
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.05.004
U2 - 10.1016/j.paid.2019.05.004
DO - 10.1016/j.paid.2019.05.004
M3 - Article
SN - 1873-3549
VL - 147
JO - Personality and Individual Differences
JF - Personality and Individual Differences
ER -