Friends as Rivals : Perceptions of Attractiveness Predict Mating Rivalry in Female Friendships.

Abstract

Substantial research has documented that same-sex friends are similar in their sexual attitudes, social attitudes, activities, and interests and values. Limited research also suggests that friends might be similar in physical attractiveness. Our first objective was to test that possibility indirectly by investigating similarity in friends' perceptions of their physical attractiveness. Second, we tested the hypothesis that women are positively biased in their perceptions of their friends' attractiveness relative to other women.