Physical attractiveness and subjective well-being

Bibliographic Data

ID10157417
AuthorsEd Diener (0000-0002-7418-4282, corresponding author), Brian Wolsic, Frank Fujita
Year1995
Volume69
Issue1
Pages120-129
Publication date1995-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality and Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3514 • E-ISSN: 1939-1315
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1037//0022-3514.69.1.120
OpenAlexW4241079314
LanguageEN
Citations received62
References cited17

Three studies were conducted to determine whether physical attractiveness (PAT) is related to subjective well-being (SWB). In the first study (N - 221), unselected students were photographed and videotaped. In the second study (N = 131), participants were selected on the basis of extremes in PAT, and in the third study (TV = 155), participants were preselected for extreme scores on SWB. Correlations between SWB and PAT varied from .03 to .33. In Study 1 the mean correlation between PAT and SWB was .13. When appearance enhancers (hair, clothing, and jewelry) were covered or removed in Studies 2 and 3, the correlation between PAT and SWB dropped, suggesting that part of the SWB-PAT relation might be due to happier doing to enhance their beauty. The impact of PAT on SWB may be mitigated by the fact that others agree on a target's PAT at only modest levels. It was found that self-perceptions of PAT were correlated with both one's objective PAT and one's SWB. Is physical attractiveness (PAT) a cause of subjective well-being (SWB)? Our values suggest that it should not be. We hope that our inner qualities, and not simply our outward appearance, cause life satisfaction. Physical attractiveness, however, appears to be a powerful resource in western society. Because resources help obtain rewards, PAT may cause SWB. Early studies demonstrated that PAT is an important resource. Dion, Berscheid, and Walster (1972) found that attractive persons were perceived to be warmer, stronger, and poised, and were considered to be exciting dates than those who were less attractive. In a meta-analysis of the literature, Feingold (1992) concluded that attractive are perceived to be more sociable, dominant, sexually warm, mentally healthy, intelligent, and socially skilled than unattractive people (p. 304). Several studies have shown that the biases toward attractive begin in childhood. For example, Clifford and Walster (1973) asked grade school teachers to examine academic records of children. Even though the performance information was identical in all of the files, teachers rated the attractive children as intelligent and popular. These biases persevere into adulthood (e.g., Dipboye, Arvey, & Terpstra, 1977). As one might expect, beautiful adults fare better in social spheres (Berscheid & Walster, 1974; Curran & Lip

Attraction · Attractiveness · Interpersonal attraction · Physical attractiveness · Psychoanalysis · Consumer Behavior in Brand Consumption and Identification · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Psychology · Social Psychology

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