The Effects of Physical Attractiveness and Disability on Client Ratings by Helping Professionals

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Abstract
Levels of attractiveness and disability were varied to assess their effects on client ratings by students in the helping professions. Students in counseling, rehabilitation, and social work served as subjects. The same female “client” was photographed in four different conditions. Each subject received a photograph of the client in one of four conditions, the appropriate background sketch, and listening to a brief audiotape of an interview between the client and a “helping professional,” subjects rated the client on 22 bipolar adjectives which factored into six orthogonal factors: Social Attractiveness; Prognosis; Physical Attractiveness; Personal Evaluation; Severity of the Presenting Problem; and Adjustment. Multivariate anova indicated significant overall main effects and interactions, and that a female client was rated as more attractive in the disabled condition.

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