Knowing your face: A componential analysis of self-perceived facial attractiveness

Facial attractiveness (FA) is a highly agreed upon and socially important characteristic, but contemporary research has not fully investigated individuals' enhancement of their FA. We used the social relations model (SRM) to analyze data from 187 participants. In face-to-face groups of four, pa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of social psychology 2017-01, Vol.157 (3), p.366-381
Main Authors: Yoder, Marcel S., Ault, Lara K., Mathews, Maureen A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
African Americans - psychology
Attraction
Beauty
Componential Analysis
European Continental Ancestry Group - psychology
Face
Female
Humans
impression formation
Interpersonal Relationship
Male
Perception
Perceptions
Race
Resistance (Psychology)
self
Self Concept
Social Cognition
Social interaction
Social Perception
Social Psychology
Young Adult
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Summary:Facial attractiveness (FA) is a highly agreed upon and socially important characteristic, but contemporary research has not fully investigated individuals' enhancement of their FA. We used the social relations model (SRM) to analyze data from 187 participants. In face-to-face groups of four, participants rated their own and others' FA. We assessed the degree of FA enhancement using unconfounded measures of both self-insight and social comparison. Results indicated African Americans and men enhanced more than Caucasians and women. Race effects were mediated by psychological adjustment, while gender effects were related to meta-perceptions. Men tended to view themselves through a "frog prince" lens, such that they accurately predicted others' lesser views of them but persisted in overly positive self-perceptions of FA. Findings suggest further consideration of SRM measures, meta-perceptions, and a focus on sample diversity in the study of self-enhancement.
ISSN:0022-4545
1940-1183
DOI:10.1080/00224545.2016.1229252