The halo effect of attractiveness and the perception of glasses on intelligence.

p Running Head : Halo Effects , Attractiveness , Eyeglass , and Intelligence

The Halo Effect of Attractiveness and the

Perception of Glasses on Intelligence

Abstract

Any studies have looked to study the Halo Effect and how it effects perceptions of attractiveness . In the current study , it was hypothesized that women without glasses would be seen as more physically attractive than men without glasses . The second hypotheses stated that photographs of people who were rated as more physically attractive would be more likely to receive higher ratings on traits that were seen as socially

desirable such as humor , success , and intelligence . Hypothesis 3 stated that people depicted in photographs would be rated as having higher intelligence in photographs in which they wore glasses . Finally hypothesis four stated that less attractive people who wear glasses are more likely to be rated as being intelligent than people who are more physically attractive , thereby lessening the Halo Effect of attractiveness on ratings of intelligence . 210 University students were shown and series of three photographs with and without glasses and then were asked to rate the photographs using a series of 22 adjectives describing personality traits on a scale of 1 to 7 . Results indicated that the Halo Effect had a strong influence on socially desirable traits however , glasses did not impact perceptions of intelligence

Introduction

I : Physical Attractiveness and the Halo Effect

The first impression is always the strongest impression . This is an old folk saying that has been proven repeatedly by empirical data . According to Asch (1946 , human beings base first impressions of what a person is like on certain aspects that he terms Central Traits (1920 . These central traits include factors such as , physical attractiveness , speech patters , and social behavior . These traits are seen as being the primary determinant as to whether we decide factors such as like vs . dislike , or physical attraction to another human being

Asch (1946 ) states that certain of these central traits such as attractiveness have a significant impact on how we judge , or are judged by others . In a series of experiments conducted in 1945 , he found that the importance of these central traits is decided by a person 's past experience . For instance , if a person has judged people by their appearance in the past , it is likely that they will continue to do so in the future . Asch (1946 ) has also stated that there does not appear to be a specific set of rules when making decisions about what traits are perceived as being central and which traits are not . This means effectively that people decide which traits are central to a first impression on a case-by-case basis

Karen Dion , Ellen Berscheid , and Elaine Walster (1972 ) have also studied the effects of physical attractiveness on people 's first impressions of others . Dion , Berscheid , and Walster (1972 ) hypothesized that physically attractive people were more likely to be perceived as having positive , or desirable personality traits than people who were not physically attractive . In a 1972 study of 60 University of...