Self-perceived Physical Attractiveness Research Articles

The Longitudinal Effects of a Lifestyle Physical Activity Intervention and a Structured Exercise Intervention on Physical Self-Perceptions and Self-Esteem in Older Adults

The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the long-term effects of a lifestyle physical activity intervention (n = 60) and a structured exercise intervention (n = 60) on physical self-perceptions and self-esteem in older adults compared with a control group (n = 66), and (2) to test the longitudinal fit of the exercise and self-esteem model (EXSEM). Immediately after the 11-month interventions, the lifestyle group showed significant improvements in self-perceived physical condition, sport competence, body attractiveness, and physical self-worth. In the structured group, significant effects were found on physical condition and sport competence. One year later, the lifestyle program had significant effects on body attractiveness and global self-esteem, while the structured group showed significant improvements in physical condition, sport competence, and body attractiveness. Path analyses revealed a good fit for the EXSEM across the 2-year period.

Components of self-perceived mate value.

Self-perceived mate value is an important concept for evolutionary psychology, and yet there has been little investigation into how it should be measured. Past research has relied upon simple measures, such as self-perceived physical attractiveness, or on instruments where people rate the existence of certain traits. Using a sample of 150 individuals, we show that there are at least seven distinct components of self-perceived mate value. We compare these components with self-ratings of physical attractiveness, current income, as well as one existing measure, the Mate Value Inventory (Kirsner et al., 2003). Only some of these components correlate with these variables, and to varying extents for women and men, suggesting the need for a more comprehensive and sex-specific measure of selfperceived mate value. We discuss the context-dependent nature of mate value, and point to the need for future research to provide confirmatory support for our factors. This research represents an important first step into the accurate assessment of mate value.

Evolutionary Theory and African American Self-Perception: Sex Differences in Body-Esteem Predictors of Self-Perceived Physical and Sexual Attractiveness, and Self-Esteem

Evolutionary biological theory has been shown to be relevant to an understanding of how individuals assess others' physical and sexual attractiveness. This research used the Body-Esteem Scale and multiple regression to determine if this theory is also relevant to an understanding of self-perceived physical and sexual attractiveness and self-esteem for a sample of 91 African Americans. The hypotheses that regression models of physical and sexual attractiveness would differ within and across sex groups and that models of self-esteem would differ across sex groups in accordance with evolutionary theory were supported. Attributes of the body related to fecundity and successful mothering characteristics predicted for women and attributes of the body related to strength and dominance predicted for men. In addition, attributes of the body dealing with sexual maturity were stronger predictors of sexual attractiveness for women. This research indicates that evolutionary biological theory can provide relevant insight for an understanding of self-perceived attractiveness and self-esteem for African Americans.

The Effect of Hairdressing on the Self-Esteem of Men and Women

This study investigated the effect of enhancement of physical appearance through hairdressing on the self-esteem of men and women. In a pilot study, 20 clients (equal genders) of a hairdressing salon completed a 33-item questionnaire on aspects of self-esteem, prior to having their hair dressed, and the same number did so after hairdressing. Later, 100 clients completed 20-item parallel-form versions of the same instrument both before and after hairdressing. Women initially scored significantly higher on the self-esteem measure than did men, and they also achieved a significant gain following hairdressing, whereas men did not. There was a small but insignificant gain in inherent self-esteem with age for women, but not for men. Our finding of a higher initial self-esteem for females runs counter to the majority of previous results, but the gain following physical enhancement is in line with earlier studies. Possible influencing factors include the psychoanalytic view that haircutting (for men in particular) may symbolize bodily loss, that the social ambiance of the salon may have played a part, that social comparison may be involved, and that hairdressers may play a counselling role. Key Words: Self-esteem, hair, hairdressing, physical beauty, narcissism, gender differences, behavior therapy, adolescence There is much evidence to show that we tend to be favorably biased toward people we perceive as being physically attractive, and that this is at least partly due to a generalized assumption that what is beautiful is also good (Brehm, 1985). The present study was conceived to investigate whether or not this relationship also applies to the way in which we regard ourselves. If we like they way we look, are we likely to have a positive self-image, and will this in turn boost our self-esteem? Shavelson and Bolus (1982) argued that self-- concept is not homogenous, but is multi-faceted. They suggested that there is both an academic domain and a non-academic one, the latter comprising social, emotional, and physical self-concept. Within the latter there are aspects of both physical abilities and physical appearance. Research by Brown, Cash, and Lewis (1989) on women with eating disorders, found that marked body image disturbances resulted from negative evaluations of appearance, coupled with the belief that being physically attractive is a psychologically salient goal to be strived for. A study on the possible relationship between self-perceived physical attractiveness and subjective well-being was carried out by Diener, Wolsic, and Fujita (1995) on an apparently normal student population. Their findings showed that there was indeed such a link, but that the effect was small. Moreover, the relationship was unidirectional in that high attractiveness was related to positive affect but, in contrast to the work of Brown et al. (1989) with binge-purgers, low attractiveness was not linked to negative affect. The finding of Diener et al. (1995) serves to confirm the observation of Abbott and Sebastion (1981, cited in Brehm, 1985, p. 71) that one's physical appearance has only a small impact on optimism and confidence. Casual observation of those with whom we come into contact might suggest that there are gender differences in the importance that outward appearance has for people. A study by Abell and Richards (1996) investigated whether or not the relationship between a person's feelings about their body, and their overall self-esteem, was as powerful for young men as it was for young women. Their findings revealed that members of both genders reported a significant, positive relationship between overall body image and self-esteem. However, the men were significantly more dissatisfied with their weight than were the women, due to a desire of the former to be heavier. On the other hand, higher self-esteem scores generally correlated with figure satisfaction for women but not for men. If the outcome of the study reported above seems to be rather contradictory, it is apparently because satisfaction or dissatisfaction with one's body does not necessarily have an effect on self-concept. …

Gender, Self-Esteem, and Perception of Own Attractiveness

73 college students completed the 1965 Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and two measures of self-perceived physical attractiveness from Hatfield and Sprecher. Consistent with the hypotheses, scores on both measures of attractiveness correlated with self-esteem and the 35 women had significantly lower scores than the 38 men on all three measures.

The Relationships Between Skin Color and Self-Perceived Global, Physical, and Sexual Attractiveness, and Self-Esteem for African Americans

Skin color in relation to self-esteem and self-perceived physical, sexual, and global attractiveness was examinedfor a sample of9J African Americans. Based on marketplace theory and prior research, interactions of sex and skin tone were hypothesized. Fair-skinnedfemales were expected to have higherself-esteem and self-ratings of attractiveness than dark-skinned females. Dark-skinned males' ratings were expected to be higher or not different from those of fair-skinned males. Results obtainedpartially supported the hypotheses. Dark-skinned males' self-ratings of sexual attractiveness were higher, whereasfemales'ratings did not difer No significant effects occurred for other types of attractiveness or selfesteem. Results are discussed in terms of marketplace theory, stereotyping, and the exclusion of males from measures/changes designed to address skin-color biases in the Black community and society.

Self-Perceived Physical Attractiveness, Self-Esteem, Race, and Gender

Abstract African American self-perceptions of physical attractiveness are found to be higher than white self-perceptions, while there is no difference by race in the correlation between self-perceived attractiveness and self-esteem. Controlling for self-perceived attractiveness, African Americans have lower self-esteem than whites, suggesting that African American perceptions of physical attractiveness, mirrored in the slogan “Black is Beautiful,” may have contributed to the disappearance over the past forty years of the gap between African American and white self-esteem. Self-esteem is more strongly related to self-perceived physical attractiveness for females than males, particularly among whites.

Subjective Physical Attractiveness and Self-other Orientations

The relationship between three facets of self-other orientations and self-perceived physical attractiveness is examined for college students, 98 males and 129 females. The results indicate only partial support for the effects of socialization on physical attractiveness and the implications of these findings for filtering processes in socialization regarding physical attractiveness are discussed.