Perceived Attractiveness, Facial Features, and African Self-Consciousness

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships between perceived attractiveness, facial features, and African self-consciousness (ASC). Attractiveness was assessed by having subjects assign descriptive adjectives (that varied from negative to positive) to three pictures: an African American female with a high prevalence of African facialfeatures, an African Amenican female with a low prevalence of African facial features, and a White female picture. A total of 149 African American college students participated. It was hypothesized that subjects high in ASC would select more positive adjectives in their descriptions of the high African facialfeatures picture than would low ASC subjects, who, in turn, would select more positive adjectives in their description of the White picture than high ASCsubjects. A 2 x 3 x 3 mixedANOVA was computedforsex, ASC (low, medium, and high), with the three pictures as a repeated measures variable. The dependent variable was the assignment of adjectives to the pictures. There was a main effect forpictures: The two African American pictures were rated higher (more positive adjectives selected) than the White picture. There was a significant ASC by picture interaction. As predicted, highASCsubjects used more positive adjectives in their descriptions of the high African facial features picture than did the medium or low ASC subjects. The results are discussed within the context of Afrocentric values in the lives of African Americans.