Dimensions of Trait Attributions Associated with Eyeglasses, Men's Facial Hair, and Women's Hair Length¹

Abstract

This research investigated the effects of men's eyeglasses and facial hair and women's eyeglasses and hair length on the traits associated with facial schemata. One hundred and thirty‐five introductory psychology students rated Photo‐IdentTM composites of stimulus persons on 20 adjectival continua. A factor analysis of the scores extracted three factors: Social Value, Social Forcefulness, and Mental Competence. Eyeglasses on both the men and women were associated with attributions of diminished forcefulness and heightened competence. Men's beards were associated with lessened competence. Women's long hair was associated with decreased forcefulness. The results were interpreted in terms of the effects of the independent variables on apparent facial maturity.

Effects of Facial Transformations on Accuracy of Recognition

“…Thus, growing a beard will probably change a person's appearance more than shaving one off will. Although, as with the eyeglasses, determining precise effects from these data is difficult, the results are consistent with the social judgments about beards that were obtained in Experiment 2 and with the results of previous studies (e.g., Terry & Krantz, 1993).…”

Metaphor in the marketplace

“…Results obtained when this metaphor is applied in Western cultures indicate that men and women with gray or thinning hair are deemed less attractive; that long hair and facial hair on men represents nonconformity, creativity and sexuality, and that specific hair colors communicate particular social meanings, such as femininity or elitism (Butler et al, 1998;Cash, 1990;Clayson and Maughan, 1986;Cooper, 1971;Franzoi et al, 1990;Larsen and White, 1974;Lawson, 1971;McCracken, 1995;Terry and Krantz, 1993) (see Table 1). Although not so stated in the social psychology literature, these meanings appear rooted in both culture and biological phenomena -for example, in Western cultures gray hair is associated with aging, and ultimately death.…”

“…Broyde, 1991;Butler et al, 1998;Cash, 1990;Clayson and Maughan, 1986;Cooper, 1971;Franzoi et al, 1990;Larsen and White, 1974;Lawson, 1971;Terry and Krantz, 1993;Zipkin, 1999).…”

Criminal appearance and legal decision-making

“…Just as in the examples above, other studies on stereotyping and facial appearance have shown that judgments made by subjects are highly consensual (Berry & Zebrowitz, 1988;Browillow & Zebrowitz;Goldstein, Chance, & Gilbert, 1984; Kahlick, Zebrowitz, Langlois, & Johnson, 1988;Perrett & Yoshikawa, 1994;Shoemaker, South, & Lowe, 1973;Terry & Davis, 1976;Terry & Krantz, 1993;Zebrowitz, Voinescu, & Collins, 1996;Zebrowitz & McDonald, 1991). Subjects make these judgments in.…”

“…It may be that an individual's behavior, in this regard, is reinforced by the fact that many times he or she is correct and this reinforces the practice o f physiognomy. Terry and Krantz (1993) empirically evaluated the salient features involved in physiognomy by varying different features o f the face. They specifically examined the effects o f eyeglasses, men's facial hair, and women's hair length on the traits attributed to facial appearance.…”