Facial Attractiveness and Helping Behavior Beliefs Both Attractive and Unattractive Targets Are Believed to Be Unhelpful Relative to Moderately Attractive Targets

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2014

Department

Psychology

Abstract

On a between-subjects (Experiment 1A) and within-subjects (Experiment 1B) basis, participants indicated a belief that attractive and unattractive targets engage in less actual helping behavior than moderately attractive targets. In Experiment 2, attractive and moderately attractive targets were seen as more capable of helping than unattractive targets; attractive and unattractive targets were seen as less willing to help than moderately attractive targets. Multilevel modeling indicated that perceptions of helping capability and willingness mediated perceptions of how much targets actually help and should help. Whereas unattractive targets are seen as unhelpful due to both a lack of ability and motivation to help (negativity halo), attractive targets are also seen as unhelpful, but due uniquely to a perceived unwillingness to help.

Publication Title

Social Psychology

Volume

45

Issue

2

First Page

74

Last Page

85

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