COM 3404 Discussion Post 3
albany20
NEW-CHAPTER-2ADA.pptxChapter 2
Physical Appearance
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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
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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Physical Attractiveness
Social Attractiveness
Task Attractiveness
Types Of Attractiveness
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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
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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:
In USA?
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
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Research
Findings
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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
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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
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Attractive patients:
May receive more attention, care, and communication from physicians and nurses.
Health Care Settings
Research Findings
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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
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Not always benefits…
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).
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
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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.
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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)
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Attractive men earn 9% more than unattractive men. Attractive women earn 4% more than unattractive women
(Yale University)
Workplace Settings
Research Findings
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Painful preoccupation with physical appearance and attributes (e.g. body shape, size, height, weight, etc.)
Constant comparison of appearance to others
Image Fixation
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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
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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
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Body type (somatotyping) communicates nonverbal messages:
Endomorph
Mesomorph
Ectomorph
Media influence?
Nonverbal Messages Of Body Shape And Size (Sheldon)
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Sheldon’s System And Body Types
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Sheldon’s Somatotype
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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
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People will triangular shape body – Broader at shoulders, shaper firm and muscular.
Mesomorphs are somatotonic – Dominant, energetic, competitive, confident, hot-tempered, enthusiastic, optimistic.
Mesomorph
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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
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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
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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
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Hairstyles provide cues about social norms.
Nonverbal messages of hair result from:
Hair color
Hair length
Facial hair
Nonverbal Messages Of Hair
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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