Examining Dating Apps: The Influence of Body Size and Profile Pictures on Instant Mate Selection Decisions Eye-Tracking Evaluation of Instagram Profiles and Social Comparison Cynthia Thorngate & Dr. Susan Hughes, Ph.D

Abstract Method Results 2 (gender) x 2 (weight) x 2 (face/body image) mixed ANOVA – DV: Choice The aim of this study was to expand our understanding of mate selection with the use Stimuli Selections (e.g.., right swipes) of the popular dating app, Tinder. This study considered the weight of the person Procedure -Pictures obtained from Internet to serve as mock Tinder Significant main effect for gender, women selected more men’s profiles than featured in the profile pictures and whether only their head or body was shown as - Participants answered general demographic profiles men selected women’s profiles their profile picture had influenced mate choices. Heterosexual participants viewed questions and relationship demographic questions - Were of before and after weight loss photos that were F(1, 239) = 7.20, p=.008, η2 = .030 150 photographs of individuals of the opposite sex in a mock Tinder survey. The - Participants viewed 150 total profiles of 75 pictures were of 75 different individuals taken before and after weight loss, but cropped to show head-only or full-body Significant main effect for weight, normal weight pictures were selected more individuals before and after weight loss participants were not told the same individual was shown twice. Participants either -Pictures were of Caucasian men and women between the than overweight profiles - One set of participants viewed head-only profiles saw all pictures as head-only, or as full-body. Additionally, participants completed ages of 18-29 F(1, 239) = .47, p< .001, η2 = .002 and the other viewed full-body profiles several established inventories that measured personal traits that may have - Top 100 baby names from 1990-2000 for boys and girls No main effect for face/body image - Each participant made a swipe decision (i.e., swipe influenced their responses. Results showed that for overweight profiles, male were used for profile names F(1, 239) = 383.76, p=.494, η2 = .620 participants were less likely to select the profiles than female participants. There was left or right) for each profile viewed to indicate -Similar facial expressions, hair styles and body language Significant 2-way interaction between weight and face/body image no sex difference for normal weight profiles. For the overweight profiles, the head- interest were controlled for in the before and after of each Figure 1. Mean number of right swipes for profile weight by picture type F(1, 239)= 15.67, p< .001, η2 = .063 (Figure 1) only pictures were selected more than the full-body pictures, whereas there was no - Participants completed several established individual Significant 2-way interaction between weight and gender difference between the two for normal weight profiles. For normal weight profiles, inventories F(1, 239)= 53.37, p< .001, η2 = .185 (Figure 2) full-body pictures were selected faster than head-only pictures, whereas there was no Mock Tinder Stimuli - Mate Value Inventory (MVI-7) difference in the full-body and head-only pictures for the overweight profiles. These No 2-way interaction between face/body image and gender - Sociosexuality Inventory (SOI-R) findings suggest the importance of body weight, gender and body/face images on F(1, 239)= 1.93, p=.166, η2 = .008 - Body Size Guide (BSG) Scale instant mate selection decisions when interfacing with the dating app, Tinder. No 3-way interaction between weight, face/body image and gender - Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS) F(1, 239)= 1.56, , p=.213, η2 = .007 Table 1. Sample Demographic Information Introduction 2 (gender) x 2 (weight) x 2 (face/body image) mixed ANOVA –DV: Response Times Tinder No main effect for gender Gender Percent N - Most widely used dating app with 8.53 million users (Clement, 2019) F(1, 239) = .18, p=.670, η2 = .911 - Primarily used by adults in their early 20s and late 30s (Sumter & Vandebosch, Total 100% 239 Significant main effect for weight, normal weight profiles had a slower swipe 2019) Male 32% 77 decision than overweight profiles - Tinder is used for a variety of reasons 2 Female 68% 162 Figure 2. Mean number of right swipes for profile weight by participant’s gender F(1, 239) = 190.68, p< .001, η = .458 - ‘Hookups’, casual sex & serious relationships (Ward, 2016) Ethnicity - Self-worth validation & procrastination (Sumter, No main effect for face/body image 2 Vandebosch & Ligtenberg, 2016) Caucasian 15% 37 F(1, 239) = 2.57, p= .110, η = .011 - Align with popular trends (Online Dating Statistics & Stimuli 1 Female Overweight Full-Body Profile Stimuli 2 Female Normal Weight Full-Body Profile Black/African Significant 2-way interaction between weight and face/body image Facts, 2019). American 6% 14 F(1, 239)= 4.81, p= .029, η2 = .021 (Figure 3) First Impressions of Profile Pictures Latinx 63% 150 No 2-way interaction between weight and gender 2 - Physical attraction is the most important factor in online dating (LeFebvre, 2018) Asian 11% 26 F(1, 239)= .00, p= .065, η = .000 - The importance of physical attractiveness on mate selection increases for online Other 5% 12 No 2-way interaction between face/body image and gender dating (Chappetta & Barth, 2016) F(1, 239)= .00, p=.960, η2 = .000 - Physical attractiveness affects the assumed personality traits (Lorenzo, Biesanz & No 3-way interaction between weight, face/body image and gender Human, 2010) Table 2. Usage Frequency of Dating Apps 2 Dating Apps and Body Image F(1, 239)= .36, , p=.548, η = .002 - Men and women who use dating apps have increase feelings of body shame, When Actively Looking for a Partner internalized beauty standards and lower face and body satisfaction (Strubel & Before and After Pic Direct Comparison, DV: Selected Normal Weight Profile, not Petrie, 2017). Overweight Profile, 2 (gender) x 2 (face/body image) mixed ANOVA Frequency of Usage Percentage Figure 3. Mean amount of time (seconds) for swipe decision for profile weight by picture type - Individuals who use online dating apps are at an elevated risk of developing an Significant main effect for gender, men more likely to swipe right on normal eating disorder and engaging in self-harm behaviors (Griffiths, Murray, Krug & Never used/do not use dating apps 26.78% weight McLean, 2018; Tran et al., 2019) Few times a year 10.88% F(1, 237) = 81.61, p< .001, η2 = .259 - User’s self-image can be skewed creating a weight stigma, sexual objectification Stimuli 3 Female Overweight Head-Only Profile Stimuli 2 Female Normal Weight Head-Only Profile Once every two to three months 5.44% Significant main effect for face/body image or social comparison (Filice, Raffoul, Meyer & Neiterman, 2019) F(1, 237) = 12.75, p< .001, η2 = .052 Mate Selection and Body Size Once a month 5.44% - Men prefer normal weight women over women who are overweight (Carmalt, Significant 2-way interaction between face/body image and gender Once every two weeks 4.60% 2 Cawley, Joyner & Sobal, 2008) F(1, 237)= 4.78, p= .003, η = .008 (Figure 4) Once a week 7.11% - Men have a strong bias against obese women (Musher-Eizenmann & Carels, 2009) Several times per week 15.90% Before and After Pic Direct Comparison, DV: Selected Overweight Profile, not - Women do not hold the same anti-fat attitudes as men (Musher-Eizenmann & Nearly everyday 12.13% Normal Weight Profile , 2 (gender) x 2 (face/body image) mixed ANOVA Carels, 2009; Faries & Bartholomew, 2012) No main effect for gender At least once a day 5.86% Impressions of Body vs. Face F(1, 237) = 2.90, p=.090, η2 = .012 - Facial attractiveness is a better predictor of overall attractiveness than full-body Several times a day 5.86% No main effect for face/body image attractiveness ratings (Currie & Little, 2009) Figure 4. Mean proportion of right swipes for normal weight profiles between participant’s gender by F(1, 237) = .16, p=.688, η2 = .001 - Men and women focus on the face first when evaluating a potential partner picture type (Hewig et al., 2008) No 2-way interaction between face/body image and gender 2 - The length of a desired relationship impacts which body region men and women F(1, 237)= .00, p= .985, η = .000 Stimuli 5 Male Overweight Full-Body Profile Stimuli 6 Male Normal Weight Full-Body Profile Discussion focus on (Jonason, Raulston & Totolo, 2012) References Hypotheses - Head-only overweight profiles were selected more than body-only overweight profiles Carmalt, J. H., Cawley, J., Joyner, K., &Sobal, J. (2008). Body weight and matching with a physically attractive romantic partner, Journal of Marriage and Family, 70, 1287-1296. Chapetta, K. C. & Barth, J. M. (2016) How gender role stereotypes affect attraction in an online dating scenario, Computers in Human Behavior, 63, 783-746. H1: Viewers would be more likely to select the normal weight profiles than the - Head-only normal weight profiles were selected at an equal rate to the body-only normal weight profiles Currie, T. E., & Little, A. C. (2009) The relative importance of the face and body in judgments of human physical attractiveness, Evolution and Human Behavior, 30, 409-416. Faries, M. D., & Bartholomew, J. B. (2012). The role of body fat in female attractiveness. Evolution and Human Behavior, 33, 672–681. overweight profiles of the same target Filice, E., Raffoul, A., Meyer, S. B., &Neiterman, E. (2019). The influence of Grindr, a geosocial networking application, on body image in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: An - Women selected overweight profiles more than men selected overweight profiles exploratory study. Body Image, 31, 59–70. https://doi-org.felix.albright.edu/10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.08.007 H2: Viewers would take more time making a swipe decision for a normal weight Griffiths, S., Murray, S. B., Krug, I., & McLean, S. A. (2018). The contribution of social media to body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms and anabolic steroid use among sexual minority - Men and women selected normal weight profiles at a similar rate men, Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 21(3), https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2017.0375 Harris, C. V., Dradlyn, D., Coffman, J., Grunel, E., & Cottrell, L. (2008) BMI-based body size guides for women and men: Development and validation of a novel pictorial method to assess weight- profiles than the overweight profiles of the same target related concepts, International Journal of Obesity, 32(3), 336-342 - Normal weight profiles with head-only pictures were selected faster than normal weight profiles with body-only pictures Hewig et al. (2008). Gender differences for specific body regions when looking at men and women. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 32, 67–78. H3: Viewers would take less time making a swipe decision when viewing full-body Jonason, P. K., Raulston, T., & Rotolo, A. (2012). More than just a pretty face and a hot body: Multiple cues in mate-choice. The Journal of Social Psychology, 152(2), 174–184. https://doi- - Overweight profiles with head-only pictures and overweight profiles with body-only pictures were selected in similar org.felix.albright.edu/10.1080/00224545.2011.586654 pictures than when viewing head-only pictures of the same target Kirsner, B. R., Figueredo, A. J., & Jacobs, W. J. (2003) Self, friends, and lovers: structural relations among Beck Depression Inventory scores and perceived mate values, Journal of Affective Disorders, 75, 131-148. H4: Men would swipe right on more profiles than women amounts of time LeFebvre, L. E. (2018) Swiping me off my feet: Explicating relationship initiation on Tinder, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 35(9), 1205-1229. Lorenzo, G. G., Biesanz, J. C., & Human, L. J. (2010) What is beautiful is good and more accurately understood: Physical attractiveness and accuracy in first impressions of personality. - Men selected full-body pictures more than head-only pictures for normal weight profiles Psychological Science, 21(12), 1777-1782. H5: Viewers with high MVI-7 (Kirsner, Figuerdo & Jacobs, 2003) scores would swipe left McKinley, N. M., & Hyde, J. S. (1996) The objectified body consciousness scale, Psychology of Women Quarterly, 20, 181-215. Penke, L., &Asendorpf, J. B. (2008) Beyond global sociosexual orientations: A more differentiated look at sociosexuality and its effects on courtship and romantic relationships, Journal of more than right on profiles - Women selected normal weight profiles with head-only pictures more than men Personality and Social Psychology, 95(5), 1113-1135. Strubel, J., & Petrie, T. A. (2017). Love me Tinder: Body image and psychosocial functioning among men and women. Body Image, 21, 34–38. H6: Viewers with a high SOI-R (Penke & Asendorphf, 2008) score would swipe right - Both body weight and gender impacts the type of profile picture that will lead to most mate interest (i.e., right swipes) https://doi.org.felix.albright.edu/10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.02.006 Sumter, S. R. &Vandenbosch, F. (2019) Dating gone mobile: Demographic and personality-based correlates of using smartphone-based dating applications among emerging adults. New Media & more than left Society, 21(3), 655-673. - Multiple hypothesis supported Tran, A., Suharlim, C., Mattie, H. et al. (2019). Dating app use and unhealthy weight control behaviors among a sample of U.S. adults: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Eating Disorders, 7, 16 H7: Viewers with a low OBCS (McKinley & Hyde, 1996) score and a high BSG Scale https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-019-0244-4 - Men have a tendency to engage in an opportunistic mating style Ward, J. (2016) What are you doing on Tinder? Impression management on a matchmaking mobile app, Information, Communication & Society, 11, 1644-1659. (Harris et al., 2008) score would swipe right more frequently Ward, J. (2016). Swiping, Matching, Chatting: Self-presentation and self-disclosure on mobile dating apps, HumanITy, 13(2), 81-95.R Stimuli 7 Male Overweight Head-Only Profile Stimuli 8 Male Normal Weight Head-Only Profile - Women do not place as much value in body weight as men