THE MANNER IN WHICH PHYSICAL APPEARANCE CUES HAVE AN IMPACT ON IMPRESSION FORMATION

SHARRON JO LENNON, Purdue University

Abstract

The impression formation literature that deals with trait descriptive adjectives provides substantive models for directing research on the manner in which individual physical appearance cues are integrated in impression formation. The information salience model of Hamilton and Fallot (1974) is used to examine the manner in which specific judgments regarding a stimulus person's traits are affected by the physical appearance of the individual. In a procedure analogous to that used by Hamilton and Fallot (1974), subjects viewed and rated sixteen slides of stimulus persons, each of which varied in physical appearance. The sixteen slides were developed from a factorial combination of four specific physical appearance cues that were identified in terms of deviations from a standard. In accord with the basic theory, it was predicted that (1) physical appearance cues that have an impact on sociability should have primary salience for judgments of likableness, (2) physical appearance cues that have an impact on intellectuality should have primary salience or judgments of respect, and (3) the impact of a single physical appearance cue on impression formation will be affected by the presence or absence of other cues. Statistical analyses revealed some support for each of the three predictions.

Degree

Ph.D.

Subject Area

Home economics

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