When beauty helps and when it hurts: An organizational context model of attractiveness discrimination in selection decisions

Abstract

a b s t r a c tWe propose and test a theory explaining how and why decision makers engage in attractiveness discrimination in selection decisions. We integrate status generalization with interdependence theories and contextualize attractiveness discrimination within interdependent relationships among decision makers and candidates. Drawing on status generalization theory, we propose that decision makers associate attractiveness with competence in male but not in female candidates. We then draw on interdependence theory to propose that cooperative and competitive interdependence result in opposing patterns of attractiveness discrimination. When decision makers expect to cooperate with the candidate, they perceive attractive male candidates as more capable cooperators and discriminate in their favor. When decision makers expect to compete with the candidate, they perceive attractive male candidates as more capable competitors, and discriminate against them. Four studies, using different samples, selection tasks, manipulations of candidate attractiveness, and manipulations of interdependence, found evidence consistent with the theory.

Perceived entitlement causes discrimination against attractive job candidates in the domain of relatively less desirable jobs.

“…While these theoretical perspectives suggest more favorable perception and treatment of attractive people in general, attractiveness has been shown to lead to more unfavorable perception and responses in certain situations. As we noted in the introduction, there are a few studies that found that attractive people are perceived and treated more negatively than unattractive people (Johnson et al, 2010;S. Lee et al, 2015; see also Agthe, Spörrle, & Maner, 2010;Agthe, Spörrle, & Maner, 2011;Luxen & Van De Vijver, 2006).…”

“…However, a handful of recent studies suggest that such a conclusion overlooks complexity in the social perception of attractiveness and subsequent treatment based on those perceptions, with important consequences. For example, physically attractive females are sometimes discriminated against in selection for jobs that are stereotypically masculine (Johnson, Podratz, Dipboye, & Gibbons, 2010), and physically attractive men are discriminated against by decision-makers who fear being outperformed by good-looking coworkers (S. Lee, Pitesa, Pillutla, & Thau, 2015).…”

“…The photos in this study were borrowed from S. Lee et al (2015). They were taken from a yearbook of a graduating class at a business school and pretested and classified in a highly standardized fashion based on attractiveness (for details, see S. Lee et al, 2015). All together 12 photos were used, three each for attractive female, unattractive female, attractive male, and unattractive male.…”

Estudo Crítico Sobre Utilização De Fitoterápicos Por Praticantes De Exercício Físico Em Academias De Musculação

“…No contexto atual, ter um corpo magro é estar nos padrões sociais de beleza (CAVICHIOLI; ABOURIHAN; PASSONI, 2012) o que pode justificar tal dado. Além disso, Lee et al (2015) demonstrou que estar fora dos padrões sociais de beleza pode gerar discriminação em processos seletivos de empregos, o reforça a "necessidade" de obter resultados rápidos e satisfatórios com dietas e exercício físico. Para isso, muitas pessoas recorrem ao uso de medicamentos e/ou suplementos (MAIOLI, 2012).…”

Mean Girls: Provocative Clothing Leads to Intra-Sexual Competition between Females

“…Therefore, females compete with one another in domains of physical attractiveness, promoting and enhancing features that males find attractive (Cashdan, 1998;Schmitt & Buss, 1996). In support, attractive females are considered a threat to other females (Lee et al, 2015). This may act as an explanation for female use of makeup (Vaillancourt, 2013;Etcoff, 1999), as it is used to emphasise features deemed attractive by males.…”