The effects of physical appearance and behavior upon ratings of social attractiveness

Physical appearance is an obvious personal characteristic which is immediately accessible to others during social interactions and which contributes to expectations regarding other persons.

Yet, until recently, physical appearance had not held much credibility as a scientifically respectable variable. Little research had been conducted to test its relationship to other variables aithough even casual observations would indicate tnat people react differently to beautiful women versus homely women or handsome men versus ugly men.