Managing Beauty – Products and People

Abstract

Uses a qualitative research method (depth interviews) to examine the multidimensionality of beauty and then uses a quantitative research technique (factor analysis) to propose a scale to measure beauty. Based on the results from these procedures, concludes that beauty is certainly more than skin deep. Physical attractiveness may be the initial criterion on which people evaluate beauty but the evidence indicates that values, habits, personality, and behavior are the “soul″ of beauty – essential ingredients in the creation of a truly beautiful person.

Quantifying the qualities of aesthetics in product design using eye-tracking technology

“…Appropriateness indicates what design elements are preferred by consumers for a certain function (Baxter, 1995;Hekkert, 2006) which is often interpreted as product character (Langmeyer and Shank, 1994). This creates different design elements for different categories of a product and generates a known pattern as a typical visual expectation (Veryzer and Hutchinson, 1998;Hung and Chen, 2012).…”

Effects of Self-Congruity and Source Credibility on Consumer Responses to Coffeehouse Advertising

“…Physical attractiveness plays a significant role in an individual's initial judgment of another person (e.g., Baker & Churchill, 1977;Kahle & Homer, 1985). In advertising research, beauty has generally been used as attractiveness and broadly measured on a single attractive-unattractive dimension (Langmeyer & Shank, 1994). According to Kahle and Homer (1985), an attractive celebrity spokesperson is more influential on brand recall and purchase intentions than a less attractive one in print ads.…”

Communication using celebrities in the non-profit sector

“…Specifically, the variable 'attractiveness' is usually measured with items such as 'sexy', 'elegant', 'classy' or 'beautiful' (Ohanian 1990), so its use may not be appropriate in the case of the non-profit sector (Wheeler 2009). However, and going more deeply into these issues, attractiveness also includes non-physical variables, such as similarity, familiarity and likeability (Kahle & Homer 1985), charisma or grace (Langmeyer & Shank 1994), and it can be viewed as positive attitude or affect towards the endorser (Silvera & Austad 2004). Nowadays, celebrities are well known to consumers due to their frequent appearances in the media, so consumers already have pre-established knowledge and attitudes towards them before they appear in advertising (Choi & Rifon 2007).…”