Why Do We Think Beautiful = Good?

Viren Swami, Ph.D. and YouBeauty Attraction Expert, reviews the research on how people associate beauty with everything good.

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In another early study, Landy and Sigall (1974) had male students grade one of two essays of different quality, to which were attached a photograph of the supposed writer, a female student. In one condition, the ‘good’ essay was paired with an attractive photograph and then with a relatively unattractive photograph in a second condition, the ‘poor’ essays were paired with each of the photographs. As expected, Landy and Sigall (1974) found that ‘beauty is talented’: better grades were given to the attractive female student in both conditions—a finding that has important practical consequences for the way examinations are marked.

Furthermore, such biases continue throughout the lifespan: as compared with less attractive individuals, attractive people are more likely to be hired for jobs and received higher starting salaries.

Swami, A. & Furnham, A. (2008). The Psychology of Physical Attraction. New York: Routledge. Taylor & Francis and Routledge website www.tandf.co.uk Many Taylor & Francis and Routledge books are now available as eBooks www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk