Discussion Post 2

Chapter 2 Physical Appearance

 Breast implants, breast reductions, face lifts, hair implants, all forms of plastic surgery…

 High heeled pumps, body enhancers, padded bras, liposuction for men and women, skin-tight clothing…

FOR THE SAKE OF ATTRACTIVENESS

 Why do men and women invest so much effort and money trying to improve their physical appearance?

 Why is attractiveness so important?

 Is beauty in the eyes of the beholder?

QUESTION?

 Usually first to be received

 Significantly impact our willingness or unwillingness to communicate with others

 Have strong impact on relational development

 Often serve as initial impressions about others

 Initial judgments may be inaccurate

APPEARANCE-BASED MESSAGES

 Make relational decisions based on person’s physical attractiveness

 More attractive people are judged in more socially desirable ways

 Attractive people considered more successful in careers, more sexually active, happier in life, more responsive, sensitive, interesting, competent, etc.

JUDGMENTS GENERATED

 Perception is based on physical attributes.

 Something we perceive in others and they in us.

 It doesn’t exist on its own.

 It’s in the eye of the beholder.

ATTRACTIVENESS

Physical Attractiveness

Social Attractiveness

Task Attractiveness

TYPES OF ATTRACTIVENESS

Degree to which we find others appealing based on physical attributes.

Plays important role in our interactions with others, particularly strangers:  Usually converse with strangers we perceive as good-looking, pretty, or

handsome  Attempt to avoid those we find physically unattractive.

PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS

Social Attractiveness Degree to which we perceive another as someone with whom we would like to play, associate, socialize, etc.

Task Attractiveness

Degree to which we perceive another as someone with whom we would like to work, conduct business, etc.

What Is Attractive?

Attractiveness is time-bound.

For example, Photograph: “The idea woman though the ages”: https://faithyay.wordpress.com/2014/10/21/the-ideal-woman-through-the-ages-photos/

What Is Attractive? Attractiveness is culture-bound:

o In USA? o Others?

Why Is Physical Attractiveness Given So Much Importance?

Non-verbal messages our appearance communicates to others – Perceptions are associated with being warmer, more genuine, sincere, mentally stable, socially and affable.

Appearance is an important source of information about us – It predicts:  social behavior  judgment about success  Competence  character in our professional and personal lives.

For the sake of:  group identification  status  likeableness  popularity

Being attractive has an effect in:  School  Persuasive settings  Job interviews  Dating and marriage  Health care

The Matching Hypothesis

EFFECTS OF ATTRACTIVENESS

RESEARCH FINDINGS

Research shows that attractive students:  Receive higher grades.  Receive more attention from teachers and classmates.  Are judged more positively: attractive children are seen as more

intelligent, more socially adept, higher in educational potential and more positive in their attitudes toward school – even when unattractive children had the same performance.

(Riniolo, T., Johnson, K., Sherman, T & Misso, J, 2010)

EDUCATION SETTINGS RESEARCH FINDINGS

• Teachers engage in fewer interactions with unattractive students.

• Classmates are less likely to communicate with unattractive students.

• Early settings, chronic behavior problem vs temporary problem. • Teachers that dress:

 More formally=viewed more competent, organized, prepared, and knowledgeable

 Casually or informally = viewed as friendly, outgoing, receptive, fair, and flexible

(Parks, F & Kennedy, J., 2007)

EDUCATION SETTINGS RESEARCH FINDINGS

Attractive patients:

o May receive more attention, care, and communication from physicians and nurses.

HEALTH CARE SETTINGS RESEARCH FINDINGS

 Physical attractiveness superseded a host of other variables in determining liking for one’s pattern and a desire to date in the future.

 Replicated study showed strong correlation (.89) between “desire to date again” and “physical attractiveness.”

 Physical attractive may be most important when dating involves short-term and more public, rather than private, activities.

 For example, in online dating, individuals with lower in attractiveness were more likely to enhance physical appearance by altering their profile pictures and misrepresenting description of their physical characteristics

(Hancock & Toma, 2009; Hancock, 2010)

DATING & MARRIAGE RESEARCH FINDINGS

Not always benefits… o Some men did not seek dates with the extremely attractive women because

they felt the chance of rejection were height and might be limited to physical attractiveness (Reiss, Nezlek, & Wheeler, 1980;

Reis et al., 1982).

o Women average in looks were rated higher when evaluated from a photograph in which they were posed alongside other women who were perceived attractive (Geiselman, Haight, & Kimata, 1984).

DATING & MARRIAGE RESEARCH FINDINGS

DATING & MARRIAGE RESEARCH FINDINGS

 Unattractive men who were seen with attractive women were judged as making more money, being more successful in their occupations, and being more intelligent than attractive men with attractive partners.

 Unattractive women seen with attractive men, however, did not receive compensating attributions.

DATING & MARRIAGE THE MATCHING HYPOTHESIS - RESEARCH FINDINGS

Matching Hypothesis - Most people choose partners considered in the same attractiveness category as they are.

• Physical attractiveness influences decisions about who we approach, date, marry, hire, etc.

• Confirmed also in online dating. Self-esteem?

(Taylor, Fiori, Mendelsohn, & Cheshire, 2011)

Attractive men earn 9% more than unattractive men. Attractive women earn 4% more than unattractive women

(Yale University)

WORKPLACE SETTINGS RESEARCH FINDINGS

Physically attractive people have an edge in interviews: • Three to four greater chance of being hired for a position. • Sometimes provides an edge when the less attractive competitor is

more qualified for the position. • The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

reported that two thirds of its members, both men and women, wanted cosmetic surgery because they wanted to "remain competitive in the workplace."

(Yale University)

INTERVIEW SETTING RESEARCH FINDINGS

 Highly attractive job applicants might be evaluated negatively by same-sex evaluators who feel threatened by them (Agthe, Sporrle, & Maner, 2011).

 Men who are at least 6' tall make an average salary of $5,525 more than their shorter, 5'5 counterparts (Harvard University Research).

 Study polled half of all the Fortune 500 companies about the height of their CEOs. On average, male CEOs were three inches taller than the average man (Harvard University Research).

 For every three inches taller, women earn 5 to 8 percent more money than women of average height(Harvard University Research).

INTERVIEW SETTING RESEARCH FINDINGS

Researchers found blonde-haired women generally make salaries that are 7% higher than those of women with other-color tresses. (University of Queensland)

Researchers found that a woman's weight negatively impacts her household income and "job prestige." In fact, a 1% increase in body mass results in a 0.6 percentage point decrease in family income. (New York University)

RESEARCH

Attractive people perceived as more persuasive

Greater success getting others to do what they desire, were judged to have better sales skills, were treated more cordially, and elicited more willingness by people to contribute to a charitable organization (Reingen & Kernan, 1993).

PERSUASIVE SETTINGS RESEARCH FINDINGS

Attractive defendants are less likely to be judged guilty and, if convicted, are more likely to receive shorter sentence.

(Downs & Lyons, 1991; Efran, 1974; Kulka & Kessler, 1978; Weiten, 1980)

COURT SETTINGS RESEARCH FINDINGS

Perception you have of how attractive your body is:  Developed through communication with others  Influences communication with others  Satisfaction with body concept is important to self-esteem and

relational success

PERSONAL BODY CONCEPT

Painful preoccupation with physical appearance and attributes (e.g. body shape, size, height, weight, etc.)

Constant comparison of appearance to others

IMAGE FIXATION

 Chronic dieting  Excessive exercise  Excessive shopping  Excessive checking of appearance  Constant self-improvement  Plastic surgery  Frequent weighing of him- or herself  Avoids social events that emphasize looks  Places emphasis on looking good to feel good

PROFILE OF A PERSON WITH IMAGE FIXATION

Similar to image fixation.

Associated with excessive attention to appearance.  Self-perceived physical attractiveness related to self-esteem  Opinion of self strongly affected by how one looks  Trying to measure up to unreasonable standards of others  May lead to physical health problems

APPEARANCE OBSESSION

Body type (somatotyping) communicates nonverbal messages:  Endomorph  Mesomorph  Ectomorph

Media influence?

NONVERBAL MESSAGES OF BODY SHAPE AND SIZE

(SHELDON)

SHELDON’S SYSTEM AND BODY TYPES

SHELDON’S SOMATOTYPE

 Persons with rounded, oval-shaped bodies  Usually heavy and pear-shaped  Endomorphs are viscerotonic - Slow, sociable, submissive,

forgiving, relaxed

Example: Santa Claus has an endormorphic body shape

ENDOMORPH

People will triangular shape body – Broader at shoulders, shaper firm and muscular.

Mesomorphs are somatotonic – Dominant, energetic, competitive, confident, hot-tempered, enthusiastic, optimistic.

MESOMORPH

People characterized as bony, thin, tall  Fragile-looking physique, flat chest, underdeveloped muscle tone  Many Hollywood women have ectomorphic features

Ectomorphs are cerebrotonic  Tense, self-conscious, meticulous, precise, sensitive, awkward

ECTOMORPH

 Mesomorphs are perceived as physically attractive.  U.S. culture values mesomorphic types over others

 Endomorphs are perceived as socially attractive.

 Ectomorphs are perceived as task attractive.

PERCEPTION OF BODY TYPES

Height  Taller is preferred, especially for men

Weight  Overweight women maligned in American culture

Skin Color  Prejudices and stereotypes continue based on skin color

OTHER PHYSICAL QUALITIES

Hairstyles provide cues about social norms.

Nonverbal messages of hair result from:  Hair color  Hair length  Facial hair

NONVERBAL MESSAGES OF HAIR

Numerous stereotypes associated with hair color:  Blondes have more fun  Redheads have hot tempers  Brown hair is wholesome  Black hair is sultry

Men prefer blonde mistresses but would rather marry a brown- haired woman

Most women prefer men to have hair, but a significant minority preferred bald men

HAIR COLOR

Length of hair associated with perceptions of credibility

 Both women and men with short hair are perceived as more credible than those with long hair

 Long hair on men is detrimental to getting a job

HAIR LENGTH

The more hair on a man’s face, the more likely he will be seen as mature, masculine, good-looking, dominant.

Clean-shaven men described as youthful.

Men feel less tense with clean-shaven than with bearded men.

In U.S., men with beards may be perceived as deceitful.

FACIAL HAIR

Dress communicates a great deal of information about a person.

Many dress cues transmitted without awareness.

People dress the way they do for comfort, concealment, or cultural display.

APPEARANCE AND DRESS

People choose colors, fabrics, and designs to match the ideal image they hold of themselves

May evaluate based on:  Economic and educational level  Trustworthiness  Social position  Sophistication  Social and educational background  Success  Morality

CLOTHING CHARACTERISTICS AND PERSONALITY

Symbol of status, status, power, success, group identification.

 Dressing formally increases perception of status.  Men’s business suits designed to send message of authority

and credibility.  Clothing sometimes points to group affiliation (officers or

military, teams).  Accessories used to adorn body and clothes can communicate

as much as clothing.

CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES & ARTIFACTS

 Accuracy of judgments based on clothing varies.

 Impressions based on dress most important during initial and early stages of interaction.

 Perception we have of others initially influenced by dress .

 We are more likely to approach people who dress similarly to us.

 If person wants to be identified with a group, he/she should wear clothing that denotes the group.

 Clothing can denote our credibility level.

GENERALIZATIONS ABOUT DRESS

Accessories used to adorn body and clothes can communicate as much as clothing.

 Jewelry, glasses, hats, purses, backpacks, briefcases

Many people are so connected to their artifacts, it’s difficult to separate them.

 General Douglas MacArthur’s aviator glasses

ARTIFACTS AND ACCESSORIES