The authors posit that the attribution of desirable interpersonal qualities to physically attractive targets is a projection of interpersonal goals; people desire to form and maintain close social bonds with attractive targets and then project these motivations onto those targets. Three studies support this model. Tendencies to see attractive novel targets depicted in photographs (Study 1), attractive romantic partners (Study 2), and attractive friends (Study 3) as especially interpersonally receptive and responsive were explained by perceivers' heightened desires to bond with attractive individuals. Additional findings regarding response latencies (Study 1) also supported this model. Many instances of the "beautiful is good" effect may not reflect stereotyping as it is typically construed. Rather, they may reflect projection of heightened desires to bond with beautiful people.
Research that clearly demonstrates the negative effects of institutionalization, particularly for young children, has been critical for changing policy. However, actually putting science into action requires advocacy, persistence, and perseverance. Policy makers and advocates must be informed about the research and use it effectively. This paper proposes a number of key components for translating research into policy and programs: analyzing the situation, using evidence to build the case for action, developing policies, building program capacity in child welfare and early childhood development, creating a family-based child welfare system, and developing a system of monitoring and accountability. Much of the knowledge in this paper comes from experiences, desk reviews, and case studies of successful practices. Research provides the basis, but moving research to practice depends on collaboration between researchers who understand the key policy perspectives and policy makers who understand the research.The evidence for negative effects of the traditional form of institutionalization reviewed in this volume is overwhelming, particularly for young children, and the benefits of alternative types of family-based care for children without permanent parental care have been demonstrated through systematic investigations (Van IJzendoorn, Luijk, & Juffer, 2007). Despite this evidence, the rate of institutionalization is increasing in many parts of the world. The challenge addressed in this chapter is how to take action based on this research and to describe approaches for moving research into practice and policy. As McCall (2009) points out, "documenting with rigorous demonstration programs and evaluations that a given service program can be effective at achieving its goals is only the first step along the science-to-practice continuum; what happens after that is just as crucial to the success of bringing that program to scale and achieving effectiveness in other communities, and the evidence for the effectiveness of these implementation procedures is quite sparse" (p. 3).
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