© 2010, John B. Pryor Illinois State University Stereotypes © 2010, John B. Pryor Illinois State University

2 1 List some characteristics you might think that these women would possess.......

2 3 1 List some characteristics you might think that these men would possess.......

Concepts of beauty vary from culture to culture Thai Dancer Indian Woman Masai Woman - Kenya Woman from Western Europe Concepts of beauty vary from culture to culture Zulu Woman

Miss America across the decades 80’s 90’s 20’s 30’s 40’s 50’s 60’s Concepts of beauty vary somewhat over history... 20’s 30’s 40’s 50’s 60’s Miss America across the decades 70’s 80’s 90’s

Miss America 2007 Miss America 2010 Your ideal?

What facial features are found most attractive? Langolis, Roggman, & Musselman (1994) Evolutionary pressures favor human attributes close to the population Cognitive processes favor prototypical category members “Average-is-attractive” hypothesis Computer average faces are judged as more attractive

What is beautiful is good!! Physically attractive people are perceived as more: sensitve, modest, poised, interesting, strong, sociable, kind, warm, socially adept, and sexually responsive

Beauty & Gender Stereotypes Handsome men are perceived as more masculine Beautiful women are perceived as more feminine

Method from Snyder, Tanke, & Berscheid Males & females isolated in separate rooms Both fill out general information questionnaire - Polaroid picture take of male Experimenter takes up questionnaires attaches either attractive or unattractive photo of a female to her questionnaire detaches male photo

Method from Snyder, Tanke, & Berscheid Experimenter exchanges male/female questionnaires Male rates his expectations of female Male & female interact over telephone Male rates his impressions of female Independent judges rate their impressions of the females without hearing what the male said

How expectations influence behavior Male’s Expectation after Darley & Fazio Male’s Interpretation Male’s Behavior Female’s Behavior Female’s Interpretation

Stability of the Attractiveness Stereotype over Lifespan Newborn infants are assumed to have more positive characteristics if they are attractive as opposed to unattractive

Newborns don’t show a preference, but one year olds react more favorably to attractive than unattractive adults

Stability of the Attractiveness Stereotype over Lifespan People assume that individuals 60-93 have more desirable personality traits if they are attractive

Cognitive Disregard We deal with strangers by first excluding all who strike us at first glance as “unsuitable” as acquaintances. Young people exclude middle-aged & old Middle-aged exclude young Men exclude unattractive women The excluded become “invisible”-forgotten

Is there a down side to being physicaly attractive? Other people sometimes attribute an attractive person’s success to good looks Attractive women often are assumed to be vain & materialistic Attractiveness is a plus for male politicians, but not female

Describe yourself 1. Not at all independent Very independent 0..........1..........2..........3..........4 2. Not at all emotional Very emotional 3. Very passive Very active

Describe yourself 4. Not at all able Able to devote self to devote self to devote self completely completely to others to others 0..........1..........2..........3..........4 5. Very rough Very gentle

Describe yourself 6. Not at all helpful Very helpful to others to others 0..........1..........2..........3..........4 7. Not at all competitive Very competitive 8. Not at all kind Very kind

Describe yourself 9. Not at all aware of Very aware of feelings of others feelings of others 0..........1..........2..........3..........4 10. Has difficulty Can make making decisions decisions easily 11. Gives up Never gives very easily up easily

Describe yourself 12.Not at all Very self- self- confident confident 0..........1..........2..........3..........4 13. Feels very inferior Feels very superior 14. Not at all Very understanding understanding of others of others

Describe yourself 15. Very cold Very warm in relations in relations with others with others 0..........1..........2..........3..........4 16. Goes to pieces Stands up well under pressure under pressure

Scoring the PAQ MEDIANS Masculine Scale: Items 1,3,7,10,11,12,13,16 Feminine Scale: Items 2,4,5,6,8,9,14,15 MEDIANS Males Females Masculine Scale 23 21 Feminine Scale 22 25

Androgynous Traditional Masculine Traditional Feminine Above Median for Feminine Androgynous Above Median for Masculine Traditional Masculine Below Median for Feminine Traditional Feminine Above Median for Feminine Below Median for Masculine Below Median for Feminine Undifferentiated

Androgyny: definition - having characteristics of both sexes Greek roots: andr--man gyne--woman

Experimental Design from Andersen & Bem