What Behaviors and Personality Traits Diminish Perceptions of Attractiveness?

Abstract

Extensive research has been conducted on the factors that determine whether an individual is perceived as attractive. Researchers have examined the relationship between physical attributes such as body shape, body mass index, facial symmetry, height, skin color, hair length, breast size, chest hair and perceptions of attractiveness (e.g., Choi, Kim, & Pasnak, 2014; Dagnino, Navajas, & Sigman, 2012; Swami, Furnham, & Joshi, 2008). Researchers have also studied the relationship between both positive and negative personality traits (e.g., honesty, intelligence, rudeness, sense of humor, lack of empathy, narcissism, manipulative) and perceptions of attractiveness (e.g., Jonason & Webster, 2010; Lewandowski, 2007; Whitbourne, 2013). The present study will seek to advance our understanding of attractiveness by examining the extent to which behaviors and personality traits that are perceived negatively by society diminish the perceived attractiveness of an individual. Participants will complete an anonymous, online survey and will first provide demographic information (e.g., gender, age, ethnicity, relationship status, area type (rural, suburban, urban), religious orientation, open-mindedness when identifying individuals whom they find attractive). Participants will then be asked to imagine there is a man or woman to whom they find themselves extremely attracted and evaluate the extent to which their perceptions of attractiveness would diminish if they were to learn that the man or woman engaged in behaviors or displayed personality traits viewed negatively by society. Analyses will examine gender differences in perceptions of these behaviors and personality traits and identify the behaviors and personality traits associated with the greatest diminishment in perceived attractiveness