An Attractiveness Halo on Perceived Friendliness is Stronger for Direct versus Averted Gaze Faces

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Brendan A. Diaz (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Brittany Cassidy

Abstract: The Attractiveness Halo refers to a tendency for people to attribute more positive traits to more attractive faces. Although the Attractiveness Halo is broadly replicable, little work has examined effects of other non-verbal cues on this relation. Because direct relative to averted gaze elicits perceptions of greater approachability, we tested whether gaze direction also affects the Attractiveness Halo. We defined the Attractiveness Halo as the expected positive relation between facial attractiveness and evaluated friendliness. 200 adult participants viewed a set of 36 facial stimuli with either direct or averted gaze one at a time, as well as reporting the ratings of specific traits through a questionnaire. The traits measured were trustworthiness, competence, dominance, and friendliness. People perceived direct relative to averted gaze faces as being more friendly. Moreover, the positive relation between facial attractiveness and evaluated friendliness was stronger for direct relative to averted gaze faces. These findings suggest that different non-verbal cues act in concert to elicit face evaluations. Moreover, these findings suggest that the strength of the Attractiveness Halo depends on other non-verbal behavior perceived on target faces.

Additional Information

Publication
Honors Project
Language: English
Date: 2022
Keywords
Gaze Direction, Attractiveness, Positive Trait Association, Friendliness

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