ABSTRACT

Title: The Perception of BS Psychology Freshmen of the

Polytechnic University of the Philippines on the
Significance of Physical Appearance in an
Intimate Relationship

Researchers: Jessa Lovely Gail T. Asilo

Karen A. Basectin

Lliz Genre D.R. Bati

Joanne John Joy C. Bona

Fatima U. Castaares

Frances Dominique A. Cena

John Earl R. Conese

Kim Bernadeth D. Cuevas

Mark Jason G. Olaybar

Patrick Andrew P. Remoroza

Degree: Undergraduate Thesis

Institution: Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Instructor: Mr. Rene Laurente G. Reyes

The Problem

The following study sought to know the perception of the BS Psychology Freshmen of
the Polytechnic University of the Philippines on the significance of physical appearance in an
intimate relationship based from the profile, preference and ideal characteristics, and relationship
status of the selected respondents. Respondents sampling were only limited to 100 students from
the total population of 195 students in PUP Psychology Department.

Research Methodology

The researchers aimed to be acquainted of the different perception of the selected

respondents using the descriptive method that employed the survey sampling technique. Survey-
questionnaires were distributed to the respondents who provided the data for computation,
analysis and interpretation.

In order to obtain and interpret the data essential to satisfy the general goal of the study,
the method of frequency and percentage distribution was utilized to analyze the data presented in
tabular form with the corresponding narrative description. The researchers also included ranking
scales to know the proper order of what the respondents perceive such as ranking the importance
of physical appearance, humor and personality in an intimate relationship. Lastly, the
computation of the weighted mean was used to determine the average responses of the different
options provided in the various parts of the survey questionnaire used.

The respondents were grouped based on their gender and relationship status so that the
evaluation of their perception were easily tallied, presented and interpreted.

Findings

Based on the results of the study, the following findings are presented:

1. Demographic Profile
1.1. By Gender.
 1.1.1. Male. 2% out of 100 respondents agreed that they perceived physical
appearance as the least important factor in a relationship. Hence, the
significance of physical appearance in a relationship could not affect the
respondents perception about having an intimate relationship.
1.1.2. Female. Same as for males, 2 % of the female respondents decided that
physical appearance would not obstruct them to fall in love with someone.
1.2. By Relationship Status.
1.2.1 Single. A meager 1% respondent from the females preferred good-looking
men.
1.2.2 In a Relationship. There are 2 males and 1 female respondents or 3% of
the total respondents verified that they tend to have a relationship with a
person who was physically attractive.

2. Ideal characteristics based from physical appearance

2.1 On Facial Features. 46% (almost 50% of the total respondents) responded that the
facial features clearly was the most ideal characteristic of a person who the
respondents wanted to have a relationship with.
2.2 On Physique Quality. There was high ideal preference of the respondents with
34% of them choosing the physique of a person to be in a relationship. 21% of the
total percentage were females. Hence, women qualified the physique of men more
than men did.
2.3 On Fashion Sense. Only 14 respondents (14%) became attracted to the fashion
sense of a person. Both men and women equally chose this criteria over the
other.
2.4 On Skin Complexion. The least ideal characteristic was the skin complexion
having only 6%. However, 4 out of 6 respondents from this side were males so it
means to say that men often regarded womens skin complexion.
3. Preferences
3.1 On Physical Appearance. There was a low percentage of the respondents (4%)
believes that they preferred attractive men and women to be as their partner in a
relationship. Both genders had equal percentage, having 2 each.
3.2 On Personality. Personality was the highest preferred quality of the respondents.
Majority of them or the 81% believed that the personality of a person should
greatly be considered in order to be in a relationship with him/her. 42% were
 women and 39 % are men. So, we could conclude that females tend to consider
the personality of a person more than males do.
3.3 On Humor. Out of 100 respondents, 15 of them picked humor as their preference.
They seemed to want a person who could make them happy all the time and most
of them were males (9%); the rest were females.
4. By ranking the qualities. With the 3 qualities, 59% of the respondents ranked personality as
the most important, humor came next and then, physical appearance was the least important.
We could say that for the respondents, they considered the inner beauty of a person as the
greatest aspect in achieving a perfect relationship. Therefore, we could conclude that
considering only the looks of a person, the relationship would not become intimate; hence, it
would not succeed.
5. By the perception of an intimate relationship. The respondents perceived an intimate
relationship as a relationship where both of them accept and love each other. 67 out of 100
respondents believed on that assertion. However, no respondent defined an intimate
relationship as a relationship for fun though 2% thinks that it was just sexual relationship, 5%
perceived it for companionship and the rest of the percentage (26%) thought it was an
interpersonal relationship involving emotional and physical intimacy.
6. By the significance of physical appearance in a relationship. For the respondents, there was a
low significant relationship of physical appearance in a relationship. Though the ages of the
respondents were particularly between ages 16-20, we could simply say that more often, they
thought a relationship as a sanctuary that needed to be taken seriously and religiously. Hence,
the perception of the BS Psychology Freshmen on the significance of physical appearance
did not affect their perception about an intimate relationship.

Conclusions

On the basis of the results of the study, the following conclusions were drawn:

1. Data showed that majority of the respondents clearly evaluated that in a relationship,
physical appearance is the least factor and the most important factor that a person should
possess was his pleasing personality because in time, physical appearance may change
and lost but personality might change though, it would never be lost.
2. Data manifested that the intimacy of a relationship depends on the two persons who
should be madly in love with each other in order to have a harmonious relationship. From
 the gathered information, a relationship would last long if they tend to accept the each
others wholly whether good-looking or not, with pleasing personality or not, and with
sense of humor or not. Accepting a person whole-heartedly including his/her flaws is the
key to happy life because both of you are happy and contented with each other.
3. Data elaborated that an intimate relationship should not be based on physical appearance
only. Humor and personality should be included to be considered then by that time, you
should be able to judge and know your preference of what should be considered the
greatest and the least.
4. Data conveyed that the main reason for a person wanting to be in a relationship is
because they wanted somebody to love them or they wanted to be loved by someone. We
should consider that all of us were not treated and loved equally by the people around us.
Therefore, some people tend to find other persons that could sustain their needs and that
is to love him/her. Mostly women wanted to feel being cared for.
5. Data revealed that if there some reasons why people wanted to be in a relationship, then
there should be the contrasting reasons of not having one. One of the greatest reasons is
about their studies. People might want to concentrate first on their studies until they
graduated and then, they will prepare to settle in after. Some factor might be about the
strictness of their parents and some were just afraid to love someone.
6. Data proved that the respondents knew their own meaning of an intimate relationship.
From the data collected, we could conclude that a perfect relationship will start with
knowing each other very deeply. Some described an intimate relationship only for
companionship and some thought of it only for sexual purposes. Many persons perceived
intimate relationship differently thought it should be clarified that an intimate relationship
would succeed only in the hands of the two people in love with each other.

Recommendations

In the light of the conclusions drawn above, the following recommendations were
created:

1. Men and women should balance their standards in choosing a partner. Physical
appearance is a good feature but there are other characteristics that should checked.
 Personality, for example, is a must, as it shows how a person behaves and it gives ideas of
a persons strengths and weaknesses. But also, we must remember that accepting each
other, no matter what flaws a partner has, makes a relationship lasts

2. Partners should be matured enough to have an intimate relationship. Because immaturity

often lacks the ability to see the true meaning of love. Love doesnt see the outer
side(esp. physical appearance) of a person, the inner side is the most important.

3. If a man/woman wants to be engaged in an intimate relationship, she/he must be sure of

his/her true feelings and motives for his/her partner. It is not advisable to commit into a
relationship just to in trend. Definitely, the relationship would not remain. Taking time in
deciding is a need.

4. When having a relationship, being inlove is not only the factor. In fact, some dont
engage themselves in a relationship because theyre parents are strict. Parental advice is
also applicable when having relationships.

5. When a girl or a boy engages to a relationship, he/ she must sure that he/she could handle
his/her other activities and responsibilities. His/her partner should understand their
partner as well. Doing this will enhance time management and trust for each others side
and that makes an intimate relationship carry on.