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First names and perceptions of physical attractiveness
1Department of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Manchester Metropolitan University, England.
The Journal of Psychology
|November 1, 1993
Summary
First names significantly influence perceptions of attractiveness, particularly for women. This study found that names explained about 6% of the variance in attractiveness ratings, showing a notable impact on how individuals are perceived.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Perception Studies
Background:
- Attractiveness judgments are complex and influenced by various factors.
- The potential impact of subtle cues, such as names, on social perception is an area of interest.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether first names affect perceived physical attractiveness.
- To determine if this effect differs between male and female stimuli.
Main Methods:
- British undergraduate subjects rated the physical attractiveness of male and female faces.
- Photographs were presented with either an attractive name, an unattractive name, or no name.
Main Results:
- First names accounted for approximately 6% of the variance in attractiveness ratings.
- This effect was statistically significant for female faces (p < .001) but not for male faces (p > .05).
Conclusions:
- First names can subtly influence judgments of physical attractiveness, especially for women.
- The name-attractiveness link warrants further investigation in social perception research.