In their new research, forthcoming in Psychological Science, Professor Leonard Lee and his collaborators (George Loewenstein of Carnegie Mellon University, Dan Ariely of MIT, and the founders of HOTorNOT.com, James Hong and Jim Young) found that whereas people’s own physical attractiveness has an impact on whom they choose to date, it does not affect their perception of how physically attractive their potential dates are. Furthermore, compared to females, males are more influenced by how physically attractive their potential dates are, but less affected by how attractive they themselves are, when deciding whom to date.
For more information, see:
US News & World Report: When It Comes to a Mate, Beauty Can’t Be Beat
MSNBC: In Love, Hotties Stick Together, Study Confirms "If I’m Not Hot, Are You Hot of Not? Physical Attractiveness Evaluations and Dating Preferences as a Function of Own Attractiveness"