Newswise — Are friendly or outgoing people also more attractive? One Gettysburg College psychology professor says yes.
In a recent paper published in the Journal of Research in Personality, "Are sociable people more beautiful?," Gettysburg College psychology professor Brian Meier and his research team discovered that this stereotype has merit. They found that people who were high in the personality traits of agreeableness or extraversion were rated by strangers as being more attractive.
"The results suggest that there is some truth to the ‘beautiful is good' stereotype or the ‘halo effect.' People have a tendency to think that attractive people also possess ‘attractive' qualities - such as being friendly, outgoing, and smart," Meier said.
Meier's team first assessed the personality of 217 men and women. Then photos of these men and women were shown to unacquainted strangers who rated their physical attractiveness. Researchers found that the men and women who had higher levels of agreeableness or extraversion were also rated as more physically attractive even though raters did not know or interact with the individuals.
But why?
"Interestingly, it appears that grooming is a key mechanism," Meier said. "Friendly or outgoing people were also better groomed in the photographs, which made them appear more attractive to others. Because the photographs were taken unexpectedly, friendly or outgoing individuals seem to be better groomed on a daily basis, which likely helps them receive the social interaction they desire."
Meier states that "grooming is a strong predictor of attractiveness that can be easily controlled by the individual unlike more physical characteristics such as weight or skin blemishes. Thus, sociable people seem to already know that a neat appearance goes a long way in drawing others' attention."
FAQs
One Gettysburg College psychology professor says yes. In a recent paper published in the Journal of Research in Personality, "Are sociable people more beautiful?," Gettysburg College psychology professor Brian Meier and his research team discovered that this stereotype has merit.
Are sociable people more attractive? ›
Instead, traits like agreeableness, extraversion and intelligence score consistently higher than physical attraction as things that men and women in same-sex and different-sex couples look for in a partner.
What makes a woman attractive in psychology? ›
According to science, men find women more attractive when they are smart, intelligent, caring, confident, humorous, kind, independent, and supportive. Although these qualities may generally apply, what one man may find the most attractive may differ from another.
Can personality make someone more attractive? ›
Favorable behaviors of a target person increase attractiveness. For example, using video stimuli, Nisbett and Wilson [55] demonstrated that the physical appearance of a target person behaving warmly and friendly was rated as more appealing than cold and distant targets.
Why are we attracted to good looking people? ›
Those who are considered attractive are often perceived more positively, a phenomenon known as the “halo effect”. This psychological bias leads people to assume that physically attractive people possess other desirable traits such as intelligence, kindness, and competency.
Is attractiveness linked to friendliness? ›
Research has shown that physical attractiveness, social skills, responsiveness, and shyness are among the individual characteristics that influence friendship formation.
What makes a woman beautiful physically? ›
Heterosexual men tend to be attracted to women who have a youthful appearance and exhibit features such as a symmetrical face, full breasts, full lips, and a low waist–hip ratio.
What do men find irresistible? ›
It's not just about looks. Sure, a pretty face can grab attention, but the inside stuff is what really matters. Many guys love it when a girl is confident and honest, is kind to others, and can share a good laugh.
What is the most attractive physical feature on a guy? ›
Physical traits that make men irresistible
Research from Penn State indicates that men with symmetrical faces are often considered more attractive than those with asymmetrical faces. A defined jawline and prominent cheekbones are also attractive features that can give some men a more chiseled or defined look.
How to check how attractive you are? ›
To start, upload your image. Our AI tool will then predict if you're pretty or not. This pretrained image model uses a Nyckel-created dataset and is built with 5000 samples across 7 labels, including Not Attractive, Very Attractive, and 5 more.
Conceptualized further, the phenomenon known as the “halo effect” suggests that attractive people are treated positively because they are perceived as being good or as possessing more socially desirable traits [9, 16–18]. Findings from research on attractiveness and trustworthiness generally support these contentions.
What makes someone attractive in psychology? ›
Overall, both men and women value physical attractiveness, as well as certain personality characteristics, such as kindness, humor, dependability, intelligence, and sociability; this is true across many different cultures (Berry, 2000; Li, Bailey, Kenrick, & Linsenmeier, 2002).
What is emophilia love? ›
Emophilia is a construct that is defined through the tendency to fall in love fast and easily. It is a want process, not a need process. It is associated with a rush of falling in love and rapid romantic attachment.
What makes a face beautiful? ›
The concept of a “perfect” face leans heavily towards symmetry and balance. Typically, features such as larger eyes, a slender nose, pronounced cheekbones, plump lips, and overall harmonious proportions are deemed attractive. However, beauty is subjective and varies across cultures and individuals.
Are positive people more attractive? ›
Be intentionally positive
Being a positive person is attractive and a choice we can intentionally make every day. That choice also has long-term psychological benefits.
Are attractive people extroverted? ›
Participants high in the self-reported traits of agreeableness or extraversion, the two Big 5 traits most relevant to interpersonal behavior, were rated more attractive.
Are people who socialize more happier? ›
Socializing can reduce symptoms of depression by decreasing feelings of loneliness, isolation and anxiety. Research shows your body releases endorphins during positive social contact, similar to the physical response after a hard workout, which gives a boost of happiness, while reducing stress.
