Maxims or myths of beauty? A meta-analytic and theoretical review.
Common maxims about beauty suggest that attractiveness is not important in life. In contrast, both fitness-related evolutionary theory and socialization theory suggest that attractiveness influences development and interaction. In 11 meta-analyses, the authors evaluate these contradictory claims, demonstrating that (a) raters agree about who is and is not attractive, both within and across cultures; (b) attractive children and adults are judged more positively than unattractive children and adults, even by those who know them; (c) attractive children and adults are treated more positively than unattractive children and adults, even by those who know them; and (d) attractive children and adults exhibit more positive behaviors and traits than unattractive children and adults. Results are used to evaluate social and fitness-related evolutionary theories and the veracity of maxims about beauty.
Langlois
J H
JH
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin 78712, USA. langlois@mail.utexas.edu
Kalakanis
L
L
Rubenstein
A J
AJ
Larson
A
A
Hallam
M
M
Smoot
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001504:Beauty; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception