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Abstract:
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A review of the physical attractiveness literature reveals that variations in attractiveness elicit different expectations and responses in social interactions. Implicit in the literature is the notion that as a result of differential treatment, attractive, and unattractive persons should vary on several aspects of personality. The premise is that physical appearance and personality development become related through reciprocally interacting mechanisms: variations in attractiveness elicit different expectations from others; the expectations prompt people to behave differently toward individuals who vary in appearance; thus, individuals develop self-concepts and personality attributes that stem from the way they are perceived and treated.
The present study investigated the relationship between personality variables and physical attractiveness in college- and high school-age beauty pageant contestants and non-contestant females of varying attractiveness. Results from this study revealed distinctive differences between pageant contestants and non-contestants on personality and self-rated attractiveness variables. The non-contestant females did not differ on the personality variables; however, the way in which these females perceived their own attractiveness did appear related to these personality attributes. In particular, perception of weight appears to influence the female's self-concept and satisfaction with her body. |