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Physical Attractiveness and Sexual Harassment: Does Every Picture Tell a Story or Every Story Draw a Picture? 1
Author(s) -
Popovice Paula M.,
Gehlauf Deeann N.,
Jolton Jeffrey A.,
Everton Wendi J.,
Godinho Rhonda M.,
Mastrangelo Paul M.,
Somers Jill M.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1996.tb02729.x
Subject(s) - physical attractiveness , psychology , attractiveness , harassment , social psychology , perception , complaint , sexual attraction , sexual behavior , neuroscience , political science , psychoanalysis , law
The role of physical attractiveness in perceptions of sexual harassment (SH) was investigated in two studies. In the first study, 164 undergraduates were given a complainant's description of either a verbal or physical incident of SH. Photographs varying physical attractiveness of the alleged harasser and victim were provided. Results showed gender differences in perceptions of incident characteristics and an attractiveness bias for both harasser and victim. There was evidence that characteristics of the setting affected ratings of physical attractiveness. A second study with 211 undergraduates, utilized a formal grievance paradigm with attractiveness varied through verbal labels in the complaint. Results showed gender differences in perceptions, as well as a tendency for subjects to identify more with same gender stimulus persons.