Why Attractive People Are More Demanding

As much as we’d like to deny it, most of us are superficial to a certain extent. In my early college days, I contemplated joining a sorority. So I asked one of my friends – a frat guy, for advice (as you do). He told me to join the Beta Pis because they were the most attractive and ‘hotness breeds more hotness’. Years later, this kind of advice as manifested in many other ways. I’m sure many of you are giving us a virtual slap in the face for saying so but let’s be real – it’s no surprise that attractive people are likely to have attractive friends. Does this translate to whom we choose as partners? Apparently so according to a new survey – that explains why attractive people are more demanding when selecting a partner.

500 members of dating site Elite Singles were asked how attractive they believed they were, and then asked about the importance of the most sought after partner qualities; sense of humour, wealth, education and professional success. The poll revealed that people who consider themselves attractive expect far more from their partners than the average Joe.

Less attractive singles settle for less overall

The finding suggests that less attractive singles may be willing to settle not only for slightly less good looking partners, but also for slightly less funny and significantly less wealthy, less intelligent and less successful partners. Ultimately, the participants indicated that having good looks is the ultimate trump card when it comes to finding a partner.

Attractive singles are more demanding across all 5 partner characteristics

• 83% of attractive singles thought their partner should be wealthy, compared to 63% of less attractive singles
• 92% of attractive singles thought their partner should be successful, compared to 69% of less attractive singles
• 82% of attractive singles thought their partner should be good looking, compared to 79% of less attractive singles
• 69% of attractive singles thought their partner should be intelligent, compared to 42% of less attractive singles
• 78% of attractive singles thought their partner should be funny, compared to 71% of less attractive singles

What the Experts Say

According to psychologist Dr. Wiebke Neberich, “These results support what we’ve believed in science for some time. The most important thing regulating the partner market seems to be one’s own perceived ‘market value’”. “What we get depends on what we ourselves have to offer. Attractiveness is a valued quality and can thus be ‘exchanged’ at a good ‘price’. This explains the higher claims of the singles assessing themselves as more attractive”.