Transcript Beauty As A Social Problem View Attractive Female(s) Perception of attractiveness level of subsequent images of females Down Up • Contrast Effect • Outside relevant universe • Adaptation Level (Helson) Frame of reference.

Beauty As A Social Problem
View Attractive
Female(s)
Perception of
attractiveness
level of
subsequent images
of females
Down
Up
• Contrast Effect
• Outside relevant universe
• Adaptation Level (Helson)
Frame of reference is
affected by our past
experience
• Association of average female
with attractive image
(reinforcing effect)
Media Impact
What images are most common on prime-time TV?
Young, attractive, wealthy
Study 1: Procedure and Results?
Charlie’s Angels Viewers
Mean = 3.4
Control Groups
Mean = 4.0
Study 2: Procedure and Results?
Experimental Group
(viewed picture of
attractive female)
Mean = 4.4
Control Group (no
picture viewed)
Mean = 3.5
Higher scores
indicates less
attractiveness!!!
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 her”)
Average Pics
Idealized Female Body Image Effects
• Low self-esteem (Texas Social
Behavior Inventory)
High Attractiveness
Ideal
(Importance of
Appearance Scale)
• 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
Often different in
physical
attraction
Short
Long
Couple is
equal in
physical
attraction
Attractiveness as a Business
• 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.
Attractive photo
Positive
Mood
Average photo
High
Low
Same-Sex
Photos
(Kenrick et al., 1993)
Opposite-Sex
Photos
Romantically linked
Impression
of man
Strangers
7.5
7.1
7.0
6.5
6.1
6.0
5.5
5.9
5.5
5.0
Low
High
Female’s attractiveness
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
Equal intake of candy by
males and females
“Desirable”
Male
• Females ate significantly less food when interacting with a
desirable male (Mori, et al., 1987)
Gender and the Personal Columns
Males
Females
Offer
Seek
Offer
Seek
Money
Young
Money
Status
Physically
attractive
Physical
attractiveness
Career
(Deaux & Hanna, 1984)
Job information
Personality traits
(e.g., sincerity)