Physical Attractiveness Biases in Ratings of Employment Suitability: Tracking Down the "Beauty is Beastly" Effect

    Authors

    S. K. Johnson; K. E. Podratz; R. L. Dipboye;E. Gibbons

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Soc. Psychol.

    Keywords

    APPLICANT SEX; JOB TYPE; GENDER; STEREOTYPES; DECISIONS; PERFORMANCE; APPEARANCE; JUDGMENTS; INTERVIEW; MANAGERIAL; Psychology, Social

    Abstract

    The "what is beautiful is good" heuristic suggests that physically attractive persons benefit from their attractiveness in a large range of situations, including perceptions of employment suitability. Conversely, the "beauty is beastly" effect suggests that attractiveness can be detrimental to women in certain employment contexts, although these findings have been less consistent than those for the "what is beautiful is good" effect. The current research seeks to uncover situations in which beauty might be detrimental for female applicants. In two studies, we found that attractiveness can be detrimental for women applying for masculine sex-typed jobs for which physical appearance is perceived as unimportant.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Social Psychology

    Volume

    150

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2010

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    301

    Last Page

    318

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000291853700005

    ISSN

    0022-4545

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