Lakehead University Knowledge Commons,http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca Electronic Theses and Dissertations Electronic Theses and Dissertations from 2009 2018 Physical attractiveness mediates the relationship between resting heart rate variability and mate value Kushnier, Rachel B. http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca/handle/2453/4284 Downloaded from Lakehead University, KnowledgeCommons Physical Attractiveness Mediates the Relationship Between Resting Heart Rate Variability and Mate Value By Rachel B. Kushnier B.A. (Hons.) in Psychology, Lakehead University, 2016 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Department of Psychology Lakehead University © Rachel Kushnier 2018 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other measures without permission of the author ii Abstract The present study had two main purposes: (a) to replicate the findings of Vacharkulsemsuk and colleagues (2016) and Joel and colleagues (2017) wherein body language and physical attractiveness each predict desirability, and (b) to determine if body language and physical attractiveness mediate the observed link between heart rate variability (HRV) and mate value as reported by Bailey (2017). A total of 42 university students attended a laboratory session where they rated soundless video monologues of 192 students describing their relationship experiences. Ratings of expansive body language and physical attractiveness were found to predict rater’s desire to go on a future date with ratees. Furthermore, physical attractiveness mediated the HRV – mate value link. These results suggest that physical attractiveness acts as a proxy to communicate information about the HRV of a potential date in the mating marketplace. iii Table of contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 8 Mate Value .................................................................................................................. 9 Mate Value and Desirability Characteristics ............................................................ 12 Physical Attractiveness ............................................................................................. 13 Body Language ......................................................................................................... 16 Postural Expansiveness ............................................................................................. 16 Mate Value and Body Language ............................................................................... 19 Heart Rate Variability ............................................................................................... 21 Heart Rate Variability and Mate Value .................................................................... 23 Heart Rate Variability and Physical Attractiveness .................................................. 24 Heart Rate Variability and Body Language .............................................................. 25 The Present Study ......................................................................................................... 26 Method .......................................................................................................................... 29 Participants ................................................................................................................ 29 Archival Participants ................................................................................................. 30 Materials ................................................................................................................... 30 Demographics questionnaire. ................................................................................ 30 Expansive versus contractive body language. ...................................................... 30 Physical attractiveness. ......................................................................................... 31 Rater desirability. .................................................................................................. 31 Other characteristics. ............................................................................................. 31 Video hosting technology. .................................................................................... 32 Archival Materials .................................................................................................... 32 Mate Value Inventory ........................................................................................... 32 Speed dating desirability. ...................................................................................... 32 Videos. .................................................................................................................. 33 Electrocardiogram ................................................................................................. 34 Procedure ...................................................................................................................... 35 Phase 1: Archival Data .............................................................................................. 35 iv Laboratory session. ............................................................................................... 35 Free speech task. ................................................................................................... 35 Speed dating session. ............................................................................................ 36 Phase 2: For the Present Study in 2018 .................................................................... 37 Online questionnaires. ........................................................................................... 37 Phase 3: For the Present Study in 2018 .................................................................... 37 Video rating session. ............................................................................................. 37 Results ........................................................................................................................... 38 Data Analytic Approach ........................................................................................... 38 Parametric assumptions. ....................................................................................... 39 Hypothesis 1 and 2 ............................................................................................ 40 Hypothosis 3. .................................................................................................... 40 Data Preparation ........................................................................................................ 42 Rater variables. ..................................................................................................... 42 Hypothesis Testing .................................................................................................... 43 Hypothesis 1.......................................................................................................... 43 Hypothesis 2.......................................................................................................... 44 Hypothesis 2 exploratory follow-up analysis. .................................................. 44 Hypothesis 3...................................................................................................... 46 Hypothesis 3 exploratory follow-up analysis ................................................... 46 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 47 Hypotheses ................................................................................................................ 47 Replication hypothesis 1. ...................................................................................... 47 Replication hypothesis 2. ...................................................................................... 49 Replication hypothesis 2 exploratory follow-up. .................................................. 50 Mediation hypothesis 3. ........................................................................................ 50 Strengths, Limitations, and Future Directions .......................................................... 52 Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 54 References ......................................................................................................................... 56 v List of Tables Table 1. Correlation Matrix, Reliability Coefficients, and Descriptive Statistics of the Variables ........................................................................................................................... 70 Table 2. Correlation Matrix and Descriptive Statistics of the New Collapsed Variables . 71 Table 3. Negative Binomial Regression of Rater Desirability on Body Language .......... 72 Table 4. Negative Binomial Regression of Partner Desirability on Body Language ....... 72 Table 5. Negative Binomial Regression of Rater Desirability on Physical Attractiveness ..........................................................................................................................................