View Attractive Female(s)

Perception of attractiveness

level of subsequent images of females

Down

• Contrast Effect

• Adaptation Level (Helson) Frame of reference is affected by our past experience

Up

• Outside relevant universe

• Association of average female with attractive image (reinforcing effect)

Beauty As A Social Problem

Media Impact

What images are most common on prime-time TV?

Young, attractive, wealthy

Study 1: Procedure and Results?

Charlie’s Angels ViewersMean = 3.4

Control GroupsMean = 4.0

Study 2: Procedure and Results?

Experimental Group (viewed picture of attractive female)

Control Group (no picture viewed)

Mean = 4.4

Mean = 3.5

Higher scores indicates

less attractivenes

s!!!

Study 3: Procedure and Results?Role of Informational Social Influence (confederate comments)Comments were negative for the average pictures for those seeing

the highly attractive photos (“what a dog”) and positive for those seeing the prior

unattractive pictures (“You can set me up with he

r”)

Average Pics

High Attractiveness

Ideal(Importance of

Appearance Scale)

Idealized Female Body Image Effects

• Low self-esteem (Texas Social Behavior Inventory)

• Greater self-consciousness (SCS)

• Greater physique anxiety (Social Physique Anxiety Scale)

• High potential for eating disorders (Eating Disorder Inventory)Thornton, B., & Maurice, J. (1997). Physique contrast effect: Adverse impact of

idealized body image for women. Sex Roles, 37, 433-439.

Overall Implications?

Consequences of Being Physically Attractive

What is Beautiful is Good

Procedure and Results?

Physical Attractiveness Summary

Advantages:

• Greater overall liking (best predictor of desire to date)

• More desirable character traits (e.g., sensitive, warm, intelligent)

• Higher income

• Higher evaluation of work performance

• More lenient treatment in the legal system

• Better mental health

• Matching

Length of relationship

ShortLong

Couple is equal in physical attractio

n

Often different in

physical attraction

• In 2002, 6.9 million spent on cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures in the U.S. --- a 22% increase from 1997 (American Society for Plastic Surgery, 2003)

• Most common procedure (Botox injections) was performed 1.6 million times in 2002

• Across the world, the cosmetic industry makes 20 billion/year

• Nearly 1 million adults wear braces (mostly to improves smiles)

• 35 billion is spent on weight loss programs, diet foods, and health club membership per year in the U.S.

Attractiveness as a Business

High

Low

Positive Mood

Attractive photo

Same-Sex

Photos

Average photo

Opposite-Sex Photos

(Kenrick et al., 1993)

Impression of man

Female’s attractivenessLow High

7.5

7.0

6.5

6.0

5.5

5.0

Romantically linked

Strangers

7.1

5.96.1

5.5

Eating Lightly and Self-Presentation

Basic Premise: People are motivated to behave in ways to enhance their image

• Females have greater number of eating disorders and dieting than males (emphasis on thin as attractive)

“Undesirable” Male

“Desirable” Male

• Females ate significantly less food when interacting with a desirable male (Mori, et al., 1987)

Equal intake of candy by males and females

Gender and the Personal Columns

Males Females

Offer Seek SeekOffer

Money

Status

Career

Young

Physically attractive

Physical attractiveness

Money

Job information

Personality traits (e.g., sincerity)

(Deaux & Hanna, 1984)