The Effects Of Physical Attractiveness On Honesty: A Socially Desirable Response

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to determine if a female confederate's physical attractiveness affected how honest others were toward her, when honesty was seen as the socially expected behavior. A total of 180 subjects in phone cubicles were approached by a con federate who had left change there. The confederate was made to ap pear either attractive or unattractive. She asked each subject whether he/she had found the money. In both studies, subjects in the attractive condition, regardless of their sex, race, or age were more likely to respond in the socially desirable manner, than sub jects in the unattractive condition.