They Do Get More Attractive at Closing Time, But Only When You Are Not in a Relationship

The effect of being in a relationship on the perceived attractiveness of opposite-sex patrons in a bar at closing time was investigated. At closing time, participants not in a relationship rated opposite-sex patrons significantly more attractive than participants in a relationship. Significant differences in perceived attractiveness of opposite-sex patrons were found at each time period for participants not in a relationship, whereas participants in a relationship did not differ in their perceived attractiveness of opposite-sex patrons at each time period. Discussion focused on Commodity Theory and on the hypothesis that threatened alternatives increase in attractiveness as decision time approaches.