Effects of Performance Information and Physical Attractiveness on Managerial Decisions about Promotion

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We investigated the impact of physical attractiveness and work performance on promotion decisions. Executives (= 61) from a variety of firms in Hong Kong evaluated six candidates for promotion. These candidate were of high, medium, or low attractiveness and were described as showing either high or mediocre work performance. The executives used performance as the major criterion to decide which candidate should be promoted. Physical attractiveness enhanced the likelihood of promotion only when the candidates' performance was mediocre. A similar pattern of results was also found for the person perception items measuring the candidates' competence and likeability. Physical attractiveness had a significant impact on candidates' perceived competence and likeability only when their performance level was mediocre. These results were interpreted in light of a hierarchical model of personnel decisions based on Tversky's (1972) elimination by aspect model of decision making.