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There has long been a stereotype that sociable people are also more beautiful. Gettysburg College psychology professor Brian Meier and his research team wanted to see if there was any merit to this. "The results suggest that there is some truth to the 'beautiful is good' stereotype or the 'halo effect.' People have a tendency to think that attractive people also possess 'attractive' qualities, such as being friendly, outgoing and smart," Meier said. Meier's team first assessed the personalities of 217 men and women. Then candid photos of these men and women were shown to unacquainted strangers who rated their physical attractiveness. The researchers found that the men and women who had higher levels of agreeableness or extraversion were also rated as more physically attractive even though raters did not know or interact with the individuals. But why? "Interestingly, it appears that grooming is a key mechanism," Meier said. "Friendly or outgoing people were also better groomed in the photographs, which made them appear more attractive to others. Because the photographs were taken unexpectedly, friendly or outgoing individuals seem to be better groomed on a daily basis, which likely helps them receive the social interaction they desire." Meier states that "grooming is a strong predictor of attractiveness that can be easily controlled by the individual unlike more physical characteristics, such as weight or skin blemishes. Thus, sociable people seem to already know that a neat appearance goes a long way in drawing others' attention." The study findings were published in the Journal of Research in Personality. --From the Editors at Netscape |
If you want people to think you're attractive, friendly and even smart, make it a habit to always look your best. Mom was right. Good grooming is important.
