Fact or wishful thinking? Biased expectations in "I think I look better when I'm tanned".
OBJECTIVE
To examine the impact of tanned female images on respondents' perceptions of attractiveness, healthiness, and height and weight estimations.


METHODS
A 3 (light, medium, or dark tan) by 2 (male or female respondent) experimental design.


RESULTS
Only male respondents perceived the dark-tanned woman as more physically attractive and thinner than both light- and medium-tanned women. Men also perceived the dark-tanned woman as more interpersonally attractive and healthier than the medium-tanned woman.


CONCLUSIONS
Campaigns targeted at males need to reduce the perceptions that tanned females are healthier, thinner, and more attractive. Educational efforts targeting females need to reduce attraction-based motivations.
Banerjee
Smita C
SC
Communication and Health Issues Partnership for Education and Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. smita.banerjee@gmail.com
Campo
Shelly
S
Greene
Kathryn
K
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006370:Heliotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D012928:Social Desirability; D015144:Southeastern United States