Physical Attractiveness Research

Abstract

From a dialectic-interactional perspective, a review of the physical attractiveness research is completed in an attempt to examine a proposed relation between outer appearance and inner psychological characteristics. Four central assumptions about the potential effects of attractiveness relevant to individual development are specified and augmented by supporting social psychological research. The relationship between attractiveness and (a) social stereotyping, (b) social exchange, (c) internalized personality patterns, and (d) social behavior are reviewed. Arguments are advanced for future research on the interdependence of outer and inner developmental progressions under the rubric of a developmental social psychology of beauty.

Body Image and Psychological Well-Being in Adolescents: The Relationship Between Gender and School Type

“…People are generally less responsive to those who are physically unattractive (Adams, 1977;Benson, Karabenick, & Lerner, 1976;Lemay, Clark, & Greenberg, 2010), so teenagers perceived as unattractive view themselves more negatively, perhaps because they receive less social reinforcement (Lerner, 1985). An alternative but not mutually exclusive possibility is that adolescents who perceive themselves as unattractive are more withdrawn and isolated, make less effort to interact with others, and receive less social reinforcement (Lerner, 1987).…”

Risk of Eating Disorders and Physical Self-Concept in Adolescence

“…Physical self-concept is a construct which does not function in an isolated manner, but rather works as just one element in a hierarchical, multidimensional system of general selfconcept (see figure 2). Indeed, research carried out to date involving both young people / adolescents (Harter, 1987(Harter, , 1988(Harter, 1989 and adults (Adams, 1977) highlights the importance of physical self-concept in global self-concept; and within this construct, these studies underscore the importance of the sub-dimensions physical ability and physical attractiveness (Moreno, 1997). This domain seems to be so important that it has even been termed the "public self" (Harter, 1990).…”

Physical attractiveness, somatotype, and the male personality: A dynamic interactional perspective

“…Because research has unveiled significant gender-attractiveness-behavior interactions (Adams, 1977b), Ss were delimited to males for control purposes. Because research has unveiled significant gender-attractiveness-behavior interactions (Adams, 1977b), Ss were delimited to males for control purposes.…”

“…Farina (1 977) and his colleagues claim that attractiveness is a significant predictor of social adjustment, as do Napoleon, Chassin, and Young (1980). Finally, because of their greater experience with positive social interaction, Adams (1977b) states that "attractive people will be more likely to manifest confident interpersonal behavior patterns than less attractive individuals" (p. 2 18).…”