Practice Made Perfect REALITY OF PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS

J O U R N A L O F ESTHETIC DENTISTRY

Practice Made Perfect

REALITY OF PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS G O R D O N L. P A T Z E R , PH.D.’

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eality is that people do judge books by their covers when The subject of physical attractiveness dealing with a person’s physical or self-image is basic to an underattractiveness. Conventional wisstanding of the practice of esthetic dom proclaims that “beauty is only dentistry. To enhance our underskin deep” and that ”beauty is in standing of this fundamental topic, we are happy to present the views of the eye of the beholder.” However, Dr. Gordon Patzq a leading author- more enlightened wisdom knows that “beauty may be skin deep, but ity on the physical attractiveness its effects run much much deeper” phenomenon. and “beauty may be in the eye of “The Reality of Physical the beholder, but there exists high Attractiveness” is the first of a agreement among beholders.” This four-part series that will be featured more enlightened wisdom matches in future issues of the Journal of reality, as verified in the daily expeEsthetic Dentistry. Dr. Patzer’s riences of everyday people and in subsequent topics will focus on the many empirical research articles ( 1 ) measurement and determinants published in scholarly journals. of physical attractiveness, (2) the impact of physical attractiveness on T H E R E S E A R C H L I T E R A T U R E self-esteem, and (3) the relationship Poets, artists, and philosophers have between improving physical attrac- pondered physical attractiveness tiveness and improving self-esteem. throughout history. But scholarly

EDITORS’ N O T E S

Dr. Patzer is the author of a technical academic text, The Physical Attractiveness Phenomena, and is currently at work on a second technical volume as well as a popular lay version titled, More Than Meets the Eye.

research on the topic did not appear until the mid-l960s, when the first published study documented an experiment showing that people are influenced/persuaded more by communicators of higher physical attractiveness than by communica-

tors of lower physical attractiveness.’ Subsequent efforts produced about 50 published studies by the mid-1970s: nearly 500 articles by the early 1980s: over 1000 articles by the mid-1980s; and likely over 1500 articles by the mid-1990s; The overwhelming majority of this research is in social psychology. Some research is also conducted in disciplines such as clinical and counseling psychology, sociology, business, education, medicine, and law. F U N D A M E N T A L S O F T H E PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS RESEARCH

Four fundamentals emerge from the collective research on physical attractiveness: (1)physical attractiveness serves as an informational cue, (2) many determinants cornprise physical attractiveness, (3) physical attractiveness has valence, which is value inseparable from the individual, and (4) dynamics of physical attractiveness are subtle, pervasive, and powerful.

‘University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa V O L U M E 6. N U M B E R I

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Informational Cue People use a person’s physical attractiveness as an informational cue, from which they infer extensive information. The consequence is perceptions, expectations, treatments, and behaviors that are differential, consistent, and persist a lifetime.4 This fundamental dimension of physical attractiveness operates among both males and females

responding to the physical attractiveness of other males and females. In fact, the process begins with even brief exposures, ranging from a single glanceG8to the extreme of a 100-millisecond glimp~e.~ Determinants Many determinants affect physical attractiveness. Some are in a person’s control, others are not. Some

are physical, others are nonphysical. While the “Gestalt” is most important (i.e., the whole is greater than the sum of the parts), the face is the most important single determinant of a person’s physical attractiveness. 0-12 Valence Valence is the appeal or aversion of different levels of physical attractiveness. Since physical attractiveness is an intrinsic value, its valence is inseparable from the individual.13 Generally, a higher level of physical attractiveness is beneficial to a person and a lower level of physical attractiveness is detrimental to a person. Dynamics Dynamics associated with physical attractiveness are mostly subtle. People are unaware of, andor deny, their assumptions, expectations, treatments, and behaviors toward others based on physical attractiveness. Research methodologies, therefore, are necessarily experiments and observations, rather than surveys and interviews. At the same time, the variations due to physical attractiveness are pervasive. They occur around the world and span almost all life activities and experiences, beginning at birth and continuing until death. The results are powerful, such that people of different levels of physical attractiveness have different psychologic, sociologic, and biologic experiences and compositions.

PATZER

SOME ADDITIONAL FINDINGS

Physical attractiveness impacts selection of friends, dates, and mates, employment (hiring and promotion), receiving help, biologic health, and psychologic well-being. There are few, if any, time and geography boundaries. For example, confirmations are published from Japan,l4 England,l5 Korea,16 Europe, the Middle East, Russia, Japan, Australia, and many other co~ntries.~

To consider the power of physical attractiveness, consider some of the specific research findings. For example, the more physically attractive a person, the more he or she is evaluated as curious rather than indifferent, complex rather than simple, perceptive rather than insensitive, happy rather than sad, active rather than passive, amiable rather than aloof, humorous rather than serious, pleasure-seeking rather than self-controlled, outspoken rather than reserved, flexible rather than rigid, as having better sex lives, and as receiving more respect than those of lower physical attractivene~s.'~J~

Psychologically, people internalize the expectations and treatments that are the result of their physical attractiveness. In other words, physical attractiveness is particularly relevant to the Pygmalion effect, where expectations become a selffulfilling prophecy, and people tend to develop into the type of person expected by other^.'^,^^ For example, formal personality tests reveal positive relationships between physical attractiveness and personality characteristics? Females of higher physical attractiveness are more understanding, more achievement oriented, have greater endurance, and are more independent. Findings about males are consistent, and include findings that males of higher physical attractiveness are more aggressive, assertive, self-accepting, less fearful of being evaluated, conscientious, likable, have the most favorable relationships with others, and, with all these factors operating, do, as might be expected, possess higher self-esteem. Furthermore, individual studies4Js show that more physically attractive people do have happier marriages, date more often, experience less social anxiety, possess and exhibit greater individuality, are better adjusted socially, have less difficulty in interpersonal relationships, have a larger quantity and higher quality of social interactions

that continue beyond initial meetings, have more social power to influence, more popularity and greater acceptance, are able to solicit more volunteers, compliance, money, and when in need of help, receive more verbal and physical assistance. In addition, when a person of higher physical attractiveness requests work from others, they perform better work, exert more effort, and are more cooperative than for persons of lower physical attractiveness. Given these findings, it is not surprising to read the 1993 Wall Street Journal article that reports more physically attractive people earn about 10% more than less physically attractive people.2' CONCLUSION

Physical attractiveness is an extremely important aspect of every person's life. A person's physical attractiveness serves as an informational cue from which extensive information is inferred. There are many determinants that influence a person's physical attractiveness, and a person's physical attractiveness is an intrinsic characteristic that is inseparable from the person. The dynamics associated with a person's physical attractiveness are subtle, pervasive, and powerful. They begin at birth, continue throughout life, and are global. Their impact is psychologic, sociologic, professional, and financial.

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Reprint requests: Gordon L. Patzer, PhD, College of Business Administration, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, I A SO614 0 1994 Decker Periodicals