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Effects of language proficiency and physical attractiveness on person perception
Author(s) -
Hui C. Harry,
Yam Yatming
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
british journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 2044-8309
pISSN - 0144-6665
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8309.1987.tb00787.x
Subject(s) - attractiveness , physical attractiveness , psychology , perception , social psychology , language proficiency , mathematics education , neuroscience , psychoanalysis
Forty‐eight Chinese subjects were exposed to four Chinese female ‘job applicants’ who were either high or low on English‐language proficiency and on physical attractiveness. Half of the subjects considered the applicants for a secretary's post and the other half considered them for a social worker's post. Results showed that applicants' language proficiency had strong influences on person perception. Those high on language proficiency were rated higher on achievement‐related traits. The effects of physical attractiveness were comparatively weak. The findings establish the robustness of the language proficiency effects on person perception.