Perceptions Of Physical Attractiveness Research Articles

An Attractive Target: Do Perceptions of Physical Attractiveness Shape Victimization Risks in Women’s Prisons?

ABSTRACT Emerging research suggests that physical attractiveness may yield outcomes beyond preferential treatment, such as increasing the vulnerability to victimization during adolescence. Despite growing awareness of individual and institutional victimization risk factors during incarceration, research has yet to consider the role of physical attractiveness. Drawing on survey data collected from 223 women across two Pennsylvania prisons, this article investigates whether perceptions of physical attractiveness operate as protective or risk factors for victimization experienced while incarcerated. Logistic regression results show a significant positive association between interviewer-assessed perceptions of physical attractiveness and incarcerated women’s self-reported resident-on-resident victimization. Dominance analysis results indicate that perceptions of physical attractiveness ranked nearly as high as histories of abuse in predicting incarcerated women’s risk of victimization. This study uncovers an unintended consequence of physical attractiveness for imprisoned women, demonstrating their heightened susceptibility to in-prison victimization.

The Label of Looks: Physical Attractiveness, Stigma, and Deviant Behavior

ABSTRACT There are numerous advantages afforded to physically attractive individuals, including better employment opportunities, higher wages, and being viewed as more intelligent, capable, and nicer than those who are less attractive. From a labeling perspective, there is ample theoretical rationale to believe that people who are less attractive may engage in greater deviant behaviors due to the stigma of feeling “ugly.” Using a sample of 1,486 college students, this study explores how both perceptions of attractiveness as well as the stigma about one’s looks relate to a variety index of norm-breaking behaviors (e.g. chewing with an open mouth, drunk dialing, failing to bathe). Findings revealed that perceptions of physical attractiveness were not a significant correlate of deviance; however, individuals who reported greater levels of stigma about their looks reported significantly greater levels of general deviance than those with lower levels of stigma. Results further showed that stigma moderated a significant negative effect between perceptions of attractiveness and deviance, particularly for people of “average” looks. Echoing prior studies on the importance of physical attractiveness in society, findings from this study highlight that how people feel about their looks carries significant influence on behaviors, including everyday forms of general social deviance.

Beautiful inside and out? The role of physical attractiveness in predicting altruistic behaviour

AbstractPhysical attractiveness has been found to influence labour market outcomes, including employment and remuneration. Researchers have also found links between attractiveness and dimensions that are likely to impact career or academic success, such as trust and cooperation. There is less research on physical attractiveness in interactions that are not inherently reciprocal in nature. We are interested in whether altruistic decisions are impacted by perceptions of physical attractiveness in South Africa, a country with significant racial and cultural diversity. We use a dictator game (n = 338, for 1689 decisions) to experimentally investigate whether people perceived as more attractive are treated with more altruism and whether attractive people behave more altruistically. We find more altruism shown towards attractive respondents, particularly from decision‐makers who see themselves as less attractive. Less attractive decision‐makers also show more altruism than decision‐makers who rate themselves as more attractive.

Differences in Self-Concept and Its Dimensions in Students of the Third Cycle of Primary School, Obligatory Secondary Education, and Baccalaureate.

Self-concept can be defined as a structured, multidimensional, and evolving construct that constitutes all the beliefs that an individual has about him/herself. Among its dimensions is the physical dimension that encompasses perceptions of physical attractiveness, self-esteem, and physical condition. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to look for differences between the educational stages from the third cycle of primary school and high school, as well as to study the possible correlations between the age groups and the dimensions of the scale. The AF-5 scale was used to measure self-concept, the Kolmogoronov-Smirnov test was applied to determine the normality of the data, Kruskall-Wallis to identify the differences between the dimensions of the scale and the educational stages, and Spearman's Rho for correlations between dimensions and age groups. Significant differences were found in the academic, emotional, family, and physical dimensions between educational stages and between the scale as a single construct. Significant inverse correlations were also found between age groups and dimensions. Overall self-concept decreases with age and varies according to the educational stage.

Beer Goggles or Liquid Courage? Alcohol, Attractiveness Perceptions, and Partner Selection Among Men.

Perception of physical attractiveness (PPA) is a fundamental aspect of human relationships and may help explain alcohol's rewarding and harmful effects. Yet PPA is rarely studied in relation to alcohol, and existing approaches often rely on simple attractiveness ratings. The present study added an element of realism to the attractiveness assessment by asking participants to select four images of people they were led to believe might be paired with them in a subsequent study. Dyads of platonic, same-sex male friends (n = 36; ages 21-27; predominantly White, n = 20) attended two laboratory sessions wherein they consumed alcohol and a no-alcohol control beverage (counterbalanced). Following beverage onset, participants rated PPA of targets using a Likert scale. They also selected four individuals from the PPA rating set to potentially interact with in a future study. Alcohol did not affect traditional PPA ratings but did significantly enhance the likelihood that participants would choose to interact with the most attractive targets, χ2(1, N = 36) = 10.70, p < .01. Although alcohol did not affect traditional PPA ratings, alcohol did increase the likelihood of choosing to interact with more attractive others. Future alcohol-PPA studies should include more realistic contexts and provide assessment of actual approach behaviors toward attractive targets, to further clarify the role of PPA in alcohol's hazardous and socially rewarding effects.

The Direct and Mediated Influence of Perceptual Variables on Physical Attractiveness and Relational Satisfaction in Romantically Involved Heterosexual Couples

A 2015 PAID article, in a study of married couples, revealed that a rating of the physical attractiveness of one’s spouse was a significant predictor of relational satisfaction for both the husband and the wife. This unexpected finding proved to be the springboard for the present research. How is the perception of the attractiveness of one’s romantic partner related to factors other than objective beauty? A sample of 201 heterosexual couples (N = 402) explored which factors impact a rating of perception of physical attractiveness (PPA), including: objective physical attractiveness (OPA), standard demographics (e.g., age, ethnicity), power factors (e.g., wealth, position, accomplishments), physical characteristics (e.g., height, weight, BMI), personal qualities (e.g., self-esteem, emotional stability, agreeableness, social skills), physical health and vitality, and efforts to look good in a public or private setting. We then explored the impact of PPA on the relational satisfaction of the couple. The 2015 results were largely replicated, however, the present study revealed much more. Primary takeaways included: (a) There were substantial gender differences concerning the dynamic of factors that influenced the rating of PPA; (b) there were equally robust gender differences on the impact of the PPA (and other variables) on relational satisfaction; (c) OPA played a surprisingly minor role in the entire dynamic; and (d) structural equation models provided detail on the similarities and differences of dynamics for men and women. Avenues of future research are explored.

In the Eye of the Beholder: A Comprehensive Analysis of Stimulus Type, Perceiver, and Target in Physical Attractiveness Perceptions

Physical attractiveness plays a central role in psychosocial experiences. One of the top research priorities has been to identify factors affecting perceptions of physical attractiveness (PPA). Recent work suggests PPA derives from different sources (e.g., target, perceiver, stimulus type). Although smiles in particular are believed to enhance PPA, support has been surprisingly limited. This study comprehensively examines the effect of smiles on PPA and, more broadly, evaluates the roles of target, perceiver, and stimulus type in PPA variation. Perceivers (n = 181) rated both static images and 5-s videos of targets displaying smiling and neutral-expressions. Smiling images were rated as more attractive than neutral-expression images (regardless of stimulus motion format). Interestingly, perceptions of physical attractiveness were based more on the perceiver than on either the target or format in which the target was presented. Results clarify the effect of smiles, and highlight the significant role of the perceiver, in PPA.

Sport practice with friends and perceived physical competence as predictors of physical activity in adolescents

Understanding which factors influence participation in physical activity is essential for the development and improvement of public health intervention. The aim of this study was to provide an explanatory prediction model for physical activity level in adolescents, involving a number of influencing variables. 576 participants took part in the study: 275 boys and 301 girls aged between 12 and 18 years old ( M = 14.80; SD = 1.180). They attended one of the 11 selected schools from Galicia (Spain), chosen by sampling in the seven main urban areas in that region. The International Questionnaire on Physical Education, Health and Lifestyle was administered. The findings revealed that age, sex, physical perceived competence and sport practice with friends had statistically significant influence on physical activity index. By contrast, the influence of perception of physical attractiveness could not be confirmed. Sport practice with friends and physical perceived competence were the main predicting variables for physical activity level. All this knowledge must be taken into account by physical activity and sport professionals, such as teachers or trainers. Likewise, to improve physical perceived competence, it is essential to offer a wide variety of activities, to propose different levels of problem resolution, to help students make adaptive causal attributions based on effort, and to break gender stereotypes. Strategies involving school mates or friends in different PA and sport projects are needed.

Television consumption drives perceptions of female body attractiveness in a population undergoing technological transition.

Perceptions of physical attractiveness vary across cultural groups, particularly for female body size and shape. It has been hypothesized that visual media propagates Western "thin ideals." However, because cross-cultural studies typically consider groups highly differentiated on a number of factors, identifying the causal factors has thus far been impossible. In the present research, we conducted "naturalistic" and controlled experiments to test the influence of media access on female body ideals in a remote region of Nicaragua by sampling from villages with and without regular TV access. We found that greater TV consumption remained a significant predictor of preferences for slimmer, curvier female figures after controlling for a range of other factors in an ethnically balanced sample of 299 individuals (150 female, aged 15-79) across 7 villages. Within-individual analyses in 1 village over 3 years also showed an association between increased TV consumption and preferences for slimmer figures among some participants. Finally, an experimental study in 2 low-media locations demonstrates that exposure to media images of fashion models can directly impact participants' body size ideals. We provide the first converging cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental evidence from field-based research, that media exposure can drive changes in perceptions of female attractiveness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Expanding the Romantic Circle

Our romantic lives are influenced, to a large extent, by our perceptions of physical attractiveness – and the societal beauty standards that shape them. But what if we could free our desires from this fixation on looks? Science fiction writer Ted Chiang has explored this possibility in a fascinating short story – and scientific developments might, in the future, move it beyond the realm of fiction. In this paper, I lay out the prudential case for using “attraction-expanding technology,” and then consider it from a moral point of view. Using the technology would, in one respect, be morally good: it would benefit those whom prevailing beauty standards marginalize. But attraction-expanding technology also raises a moral concern – one that can be cast in non-harm-based and harm-based terms. I argue that the non-harm-based objection should be rejected, because it is incompatible with a moral principle central to queer rights. And the harm-based objection, I argue, is outweighed by the benefits of attraction-expanding technology, and undermined by the prerogative you have over your personal romantic choices. I conclude by considering whether, from the perspective of society, the development of attraction-expanding technology would be desirable.

The relationship between female adiposity and physical attractiveness amongst adults in rural Ranaka village, Botswana

Objective: The aim was to assess the relationship between female adiposity and physical attractiveness among men and women in Botswana.Design: A cross-sectional study was undertaken.Setting: Ranaka rural village, Botswana.Subjects: Randomly selected adults (n = 113, men = 48 and women = 65), 18–50 years old were recruited.Outcome measures: Scores to indicate the attractiveness of 21 images of female bodies that represented different percentage body fat (%BF) according to participants’ age, gender and body mass index (BMI) were recorded.Results: The perceptions of physical attractiveness of female body size were similar among men and women, regardless of significant differences between the BMI of men and women. Younger (18–30 years) and older participants (31–50 years) separately, as well as underweight/normal weight versus overweight/obese groups all gave higher attractiveness scores for images with a lower %BF. All groups gave the highest score for the same image (%BF of 19% and waist:hip ratio (WHR) of 0.72), and the lowest score for an image with %BF of 49% and WHR of 0.81. There was a significant negative correlation between attractiveness score and %BF of the images for all groups, but no significant correlation between the attractiveness scores for the images and WHR. There was a consistent outlier in the graphs between attractiveness score and %BF with a %BF of 32% and a WHR of 0.61, with a relatively high score of 7.4 out of 9 for all groups.Conclusions: Participant groups according to gender, age or BMI gave similar attractiveness scores for leaner female body images.

Perception of physical attractiveness when consuming and not consuming alcohol: a meta-analysis.

Elucidating why people drink and why drinking can lead to negative psychosocial consequences remains a crucial task for alcohol researchers. Because drinking occurs typically in social settings, broader investigation of the associations between alcohol and social experience is needed to advance understanding of both the rewarding and hazardous effects of alcohol use. This review aimed to (a) estimate alcohol's relation to the perception of others' physical attractiveness and (b) suggest theoretical and methodological considerations that may advance the study of this topic. Systematic review of Scopus and PsycInfo databases was conducted to identify experimental and quasi-experimental studies, with either between- or within-subjects designs, that assessed attractiveness ratings provided by individuals who had and had not consumed alcohol (k=16 studies, n=1811). A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate alcohol's aggregate association with physical attractiveness perceptions. Separate a priori secondary analyses examined alcohol's associations with perception of opposite-sex (k=12 studies) and same-sex (k=7 studies) attractiveness. The primary analysis indicated that alcohol was related significantly to enhanced attractiveness perceptions [d=0.19, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.05-0.32, P=0.01; I2 =5.28, 95% CI=0.00-39.32]. Analysis of alcohol's association with perception of opposite-sex attractiveness similarly yielded a small, significant positive association (d=0.30, 95% CI=0.16-0.44, P<0.01; I2 =17.49, 95% CI=0.00-57.75). Alcohol's relation to perception of same-sex attractiveness was not significant (d=0.04, 95% CI=-0.18 to 0.26, P=0.71; I2 =54.08, 95% CI=0.00-81.66). Experimental and quasi-experimental studies suggest that consuming alcohol may have a small effect of increasing perceived attractiveness of people of the opposite sex.

Male and Female Perception of Physical Attractiveness

Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and breast size are morphological traits that are associated with female attractiveness. Previous studies using line drawings of women have shown that men across cultures rate low WHRs (0.6 and 0.7) as most attractive. In this study, we used additional viewing measurements (i.e., first fixation duration and visual regressions) to measure visual attention and record how long participants first focused on the female body and whether they regressed back to an area of interest. Additionally, we manipulated skin tone to determine whether they preferred light- or dark-skinned women. In two eye tracking experiments, participants rated the attractiveness of female nude images varying in WHR (0.5–0.9), breast size, and skin tone. We measured first fixation duration, gaze duration, and total time. The overall results of both studies revealed that visual attention fell mostly on the face, the breasts, and the midriff of the female body, supporting the evolutionary view that reproductively relevant regions of the female body are important to female attractiveness. Because the stimuli varied in skin tone and the participants were mainly Hispanic of Mexican American descent, the findings from these studies also support a preference for low WHRs and reproductively relevant regions of the female body.

Effect of relationship status on perceptions of physical attractiveness for alternative partners

AbstractCoupled people, those in a relationship, devaluate the attractiveness of an alternative partner compared to noncoupled people (D. J. Johnson &amp; C. E. Rusbult, 1989). The present research tested two competing hypotheses about the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. According to the motivational hypothesis, coupled and noncoupled people initially perceive opposite‐sex others as equally attractive. Coupled people, however, recalibrate their perceptions. In contrast, the perceptual hypothesis proposes that coupled people do not perceive opposite‐sex others as attractive. The present study tested these competing hypotheses by measuring both involuntary and self‐reported perceptions of attractiveness of opposite‐sex models. Supporting the motivational hypothesis, coupled participants (n = 38) and noncoupled participants (n = 34) exhibited the same degree of pupil dilation, however, coupled participants reported lower attractiveness ratings.

Body Fat, And Self-perceived Attractiveness And Mate-value In Women

Mate-value (MV) represents one’s overall perceived desirability as a mate. For females, MV relies heavily on perceptions of physical attractiveness by oneself and others, which includes common body-related variables of body size, body shape, and body composition. From a public health standpoint, these body-related variables, especially body fat, are important due both their role on health, and their relationships to health behavior. PURPOSE: To provide exploratory data for the relationships between body fat and other various anthropometric measures with components of self-perceived MV and attractiveness in a sample of college-aged women (N = 55). METHODS: Self-perceived MV (overall and 7 separate components) and attractiveness were correlated with common anthropometric measures, including body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). In addition, participants completed a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, which provided total body fat percentage (BF%), fat mass, lean mass, and measures of regional fat distribution. RESULTS: Overall MV was significantly related to arm, leg, and lower body lean mass, accounting for 12% of the variance in self-ratings. Only the individual MV components representing physical attractiveness and attraction of the opposite sex held substantial association with body anthropometrics, accounting for a maximum of 18% of the variance. Lean and fat mass of the arms, hips, and lower body appear to be the strongest negative correlates and predictors of self-perceived MV and attractiveness within the present sample of women. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight how women can attribute high or low MV to themselves regardless of body size, shape or fat content. From a behavioral and public health standpoint, the present results provide further perspective on our understanding of the complex relationships of body fat, self-perceived attractiveness, MV and behavioral choices.

Ratings of physical attractiveness within young, romantically engaged couples in Malaysia

This study examined the matching hypothesis, the positive illusions effect and the love is blind bias in young, romantically engaged couples in Malaysia. Each member of 58 young, romantically engaged heterosexual couples completed the Body Esteem Scale and items assessing physical attractiveness in relation to themselves and their partner. In support of the matching hypothesis, partners' perceptions of their own and their partner's facial and bodily attractiveness were significantly correlated. The positive illusions effect and the love is blind bias were also evident, with participants' ratings of partners being greater than both their own self‐ratings and their partner's self‐ratings of physical attractiveness. Although our findings suggest that these phenomena related to perceptions of physical attractiveness are evident across cultures, further studies are required.

Hemispheric specialization in the assessment of female physical attractiveness

Female physical attractiveness has been widely related to waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body weight (BW). The present study was conducted to examine the role of hemispheric specialization in the perception of physical attractiveness. Drawings of female figures that differed in BW (underweight, normal and overweight) and WHR (0.7 and 1.0) were presented to both male and female subjects using the visual half-field technique. The stimuli were presented for an unusually short duration (180 msec). Under these conditions, male but not female subjects rated the various female figures as differing in attractiveness. Thus, male judgements of female attractiveness depended on weight and WHR. Reaction time and accuracy scores obtained from male subjects suggested that the left hemisphere (LH) was slower but more accurate than the right hemisphere in detecting differences in the attractiveness of the figures. Additionally, the most attractive figure was detected significantly more accurately than the least attractive figure when the figures were presented to the LH. The findings were discussed in terms of evolutionary views of sex differences in mate selection.

A New Era of Courtship: Let me Contemplate our Speed-Date to Determine the Interconnectedness of Conversation and Physical Attraction

The central purpose of this study was to determine whether a single interpersonal communication event could influence perceptions of physical attractiveness in a dating environment. A total of 104 undergraduate students at a large United States university engaged in speed-dating in order to examine the effects of both positive communication and negative communication. Speed-dating was incorporated into the present research because this round-robin method of dating offered an efficient means for investigating attraction and analyzing the effects of a single conversation. It was upon arrival at the event that participants completed a pre-test measure, engaged in a series of three minute speed-dates, and then completed a post-test measure. Results produced evidence of an interaction. Perceptions of physical attractiveness increased from pre-test to post-test in the positive communication condition while perceptions of physical attractiveness decreased from pre-test to post-test in the negative communication condition. Additional findings illustrated that three minutes of non-neutral social interaction had differing effects on women and men. One of the central conclusions from the present research was that females can strategically use interpersonal communication as a tool for enhancing their physical appearance. The results from this study also yielded practical implications that are relevant to casual dating as well as theoretical implications that are germane to communication theory.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans appearance and embodiment: A critical review of the psychological literature

This paper provides a review of the psychological literature on LGBT appearance and embodiment. Research on ‘outsider’ perceptions of LGBT appearance and embodiment has focused on the links between perceptions of physical attractiveness and homosexuality, and physical attractiveness and transsexuality, and on the detection of homosexuality from visual cues. ‘Insider’ research has examined LGBT people’s body image, and appearance and adornment practices in non-heterosexual communities. We identify three major limitations of LGBT appearance research: (i) the reliance on a gender inversion model of homosexuality; (ii) the marginalisation of bisexual appearance and embodiment; and (iii) the focus on trans as a diagnostic category and the resulting exclusion of the subjectivities and lived experiences of trans people.

The Influence of Facial Piercings and Observer Personality on Perceptions of Physical Attractiveness and Intelligence

The primary aim of the present study was to examine the influence of facial piercings on observer ratings of physical attractiveness and intelligence. A total of 440 women and men rated a set of stimuli that depicted a female and a male model, respectively, with varying numbers of facial piercings. Participants also completed measures of the Big Five personality factors and sensation seeking, and provided information of their own piercings. Results indicated that, controlling for participants’ own piercings, stimuli with piercings were rated as less physically attractive and intelligent than those without piercings, with multiple piercings being accorded the most negative ratings. In addition, men with piercings were rated more negatively than women with piercings. Further results showed that participants’ openness to experience and sensation seeking were associated with more positive ratings of pierced individuals, and that greater number of participant piercings was correlated with the Big Five personality factors of Emotional Stability, Extraversion, and Conscientiousness, and sensation seeking. These results are discussed in relation to the extant literature on body modifications.