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More than just skin deep? Personality information influences men's ratings of the attractiveness of women's body sizes

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Martin Tovee

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Abstract

This study examined the influence of personality information on perceptions of the physical attractiveness of a range of female body sizes. A sample of 2,157 male university students were randomly assigned to one of ten groups in which they received personality information about women they were rating, or a control group in which they received no personality information. Controlling for participants’ age and body mass index, results showed no significant between-group differences in the body size that participants found most attractive. However, participants provided with positive personality information perceived a wider range of body sizes as physically attractive compared with the control group, whereas participants provided with negative personality information perceived a narrower range of body sizes as attractive. Correlations showed that participants’ own Extraversion was associated with their body size ratings. These results suggest that non-physical cues have an influence on the perception of physical beauty.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Swami V, Furnham A, Chamorro-Premuzic T, Akbar K, Gordon N, Harris T, Finch J, Tovee MJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Social Psychology

Year: 2010

Volume: 150

Issue: 6

Pages: 628-647

Print publication date: 06/11/2010

ISSN (print): 0022-4545

ISSN (electronic): 1940-1183

Publisher: Heldref Publications

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224540903365497

DOI: 10.1080/00224540903365497

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