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Beauty As A Social Problem. Perception of attractiveness level of subsequent images of females. View Attractive Female(s ) . Down Contrast Effect Adaptation Level ( Helson ) Frame of reference is affected by our past experience. Up Outside relevant universe
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Beauty As A Social Problem Perception of attractiveness level of subsequent images of females View Attractive Female(s) • Down • Contrast Effect • Adaptation Level (Helson) Frame of reference is affected by our past experience • Up • Outside relevant universe • Association of average female with attractive image (reinforcing effect)
Media Impact What images are most common on prime-time TV? Young, attractive, wealthy
Study 1: Procedure and Results? Charlie’s Angels Viewers Mean = 3.4 Control Groups Mean = 4.0
Study 2: Procedure and Results? Experimental Group (viewed picture of attractive female) Control Group (no picture viewed) Higher scores indicates less attractiveness Mean = 4.4 Mean = 3.5
Study 3: Procedure and Results? Role of Informational Social Influence (confederate comments) Comments were negative for the average pictures for those seeing the highly attractive photos (“what a dog”) and positive for those seeing the prior unattractive pictures (“You can set me up with her” Average Pics
Idealized Female Body Image Effects • Low self-esteem (Texas Social • Behavior Inventory) • Greater self-consciousness (SCS) • Greater physique anxiety (Social • Physique Anxiety Scale) • High potential for eating disorders • (Eating Disorder Inventory) High Attractiveness Ideal (Importance of Appearance Scale)
Consequences of Being Physically Attractive What is Beautiful is Good Procedure and Results?
Physical Attractiveness Summary • Advantages: • Greater overall liking (bestpredictor of desire to date) • More desirable character traits (e.g., sensitive, warm, intelligent) • Higher income • Higher evaluation of work performance • More lenient treatment in the legal system • Better mental health • Matching Often different in physical attraction Short Length of relationship Couples Couple is equal in physical attraction Long
Attractiveness as a Business • In 2002, 6.9 million spent on cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures in the U.S. --- a 22% increase from 1997 (American Society for Plastic Surgery, 2003) • Most common procedure (Botox injections) was performed 1.6 million times in 2002 • Across the world, the cosmetic industry makes 20 billion/year • Nearly 1 million adults wear braces (mostly to improves smiles) • 35 billion is spent on weight loss programs, diet foods, and health club membership per year in the U.S.