The Influence of
Physical Attractiveness
Andrew Liu
Candidate Number:
Exam Session: May 2002
IB Psychology Standard Level
Word Count: 1955
Abstract
Debriefing
The study that we conducted was designed to measure the affects of appearance on human behavior. We had three different papers for three different groups. All had the description of the bank robbery, but one had an attractive picture, one had an unattractive picture, and one had no picture. Our hypothesis was that the amount of years that the participant decided to sentence the defendant would depend on the attractiveness of the person, and this is what we are trying to prove with this study. Hopefully our results will show that the attractive defendant will be sentenced the least years, the unattractive defendant the most years, and the description only somewhere in the middle.
If you would like to know the results of our study, you can email Andrew Liu or Kyle Webb at
[email protected] , [email protected].
Contents
Abstract i
Introduction 1
Method 3
Design 3
Participant 3
Apparatus/Materials 3
Procedure 4
Results 5
Description of Results 5
Discussion 6
Conclusion 8
References 9
Appendices 10
Appendix i 10
Appendix ii 11
Appendix iii 12
Appendix iv 13
Introduction
The original development of Social Psychology was intended to identify basic principles of behavior that affect people around the world. Studies conducted in this perspective often relate to human behaviors that apply to all humans. The study that was replicated by the researchers deals with the halo effect (John E. Stewart III, 1980). This effect states that physical attractiveness has advantage over those that are less attractive. The halo effect builds around the belief that more beautiful people are thought to have beautiful personalities and possess other socially desirable characteristics.
The study that the researchers are going to replicate was from a study conducted by Sigall & Ostrove (1975). In their experiment their hypothesis stated that more attractive people would receive less time sentenced in jail. This study and the theory that it was based upon all support the researcher's hypothesis. Another study, which supports the prediction in the research hypothesis, is a study done by John Stewart III (1980). In his observational study he studied the amount of time an attractive person was sentenced and the time that a less attractive person was sentenced. In his study he concluded that the more attractive the defendant the shorter of time the defendant was sentenced to jail. The study done by (Benson, Karabenick, and Lerner, 1976) also support the fact that physical attractiveness has distinct advantages over the less attractive. In their study they left filled in college application in phone booths with either an attractive picture or an unattractive picture. At the end of the study they concluded that more attractive people had a higher percentages rate in the amount of applications returned to them. This clearly shows that more attractive people receive more help.
The issue that was investigated deal with the halo effect (John E. Stewart III, 1980) and how it affects human behavior. The researcher believed that people who are considered to be more attractive receive advantages in juridical judgment over the less attractive. This topic is important to understand so people can have a better understanding when judging people. Justification must be brought to make sure that every individual must be tried equally in a court. This issue was investigated by conducting a study on high school students in their junior year. They were asked to determine how many years the defendant should be sentenced to prison. Two identical cases were matched with either an attractive person or an unattractive person. The results from the experiment provided the support for the research hypothesis.
Physical Attractiveness
Andrew Liu
Candidate Number:
Exam Session: May 2002
IB Psychology Standard Level
Word Count: 1955
Abstract
Debriefing
The study that we conducted was designed to measure the affects of appearance on human behavior. We had three different papers for three different groups. All had the description of the bank robbery, but one had an attractive picture, one had an unattractive picture, and one had no picture. Our hypothesis was that the amount of years that the participant decided to sentence the defendant would depend on the attractiveness of the person, and this is what we are trying to prove with this study. Hopefully our results will show that the attractive defendant will be sentenced the least years, the unattractive defendant the most years, and the description only somewhere in the middle.
If you would like to know the results of our study, you can email Andrew Liu or Kyle Webb at
[email protected] , [email protected].
Contents
Abstract i
Introduction 1
Method 3
Design 3
Participant 3
Apparatus/Materials 3
Procedure 4
Results 5
Description of Results 5
Discussion 6
Conclusion 8
References 9
Appendices 10
Appendix i 10
Appendix ii 11
Appendix iii 12
Appendix iv 13
Introduction
The original development of Social Psychology was intended to identify basic principles of behavior that affect people around the world. Studies conducted in this perspective often relate to human behaviors that apply to all humans. The study that was replicated by the researchers deals with the halo effect (John E. Stewart III, 1980). This effect states that physical attractiveness has advantage over those that are less attractive. The halo effect builds around the belief that more beautiful people are thought to have beautiful personalities and possess other socially desirable characteristics.
The study that the researchers are going to replicate was from a study conducted by Sigall & Ostrove (1975). In their experiment their hypothesis stated that more attractive people would receive less time sentenced in jail. This study and the theory that it was based upon all support the researcher's hypothesis. Another study, which supports the prediction in the research hypothesis, is a study done by John Stewart III (1980). In his observational study he studied the amount of time an attractive person was sentenced and the time that a less attractive person was sentenced. In his study he concluded that the more attractive the defendant the shorter of time the defendant was sentenced to jail. The study done by (Benson, Karabenick, and Lerner, 1976) also support the fact that physical attractiveness has distinct advantages over the less attractive. In their study they left filled in college application in phone booths with either an attractive picture or an unattractive picture. At the end of the study they concluded that more attractive people had a higher percentages rate in the amount of applications returned to them. This clearly shows that more attractive people receive more help.
The issue that was investigated deal with the halo effect (John E. Stewart III, 1980) and how it affects human behavior. The researcher believed that people who are considered to be more attractive receive advantages in juridical judgment over the less attractive. This topic is important to understand so people can have a better understanding when judging people. Justification must be brought to make sure that every individual must be tried equally in a court. This issue was investigated by conducting a study on high school students in their junior year. They were asked to determine how many years the defendant should be sentenced to prison. Two identical cases were matched with either an attractive person or an unattractive person. The results from the experiment provided the support for the research hypothesis.
