Integration of Information in the “Courts:” Influence of Physical Attractiveness on Amount of Punishment for a Traffic Offender

Abstract

Physical attractiveness of a traffic offender was varied along with the nature of the street accident. Punishment as a main dependent measure was realized in terms of imprisonment. Results for 44 female and 46 male undergraduates were inconsistent with additive and averaging models of information integration. An averaging model with differential weights could not give a consistent account of the effects. An attractive offender received more lenient treatment than an unattractive both involved in an identical accident. Having committed a fatal accident, physical attractiveness appears to have a negative influence on the over-all judgment.