Effects of Physical Attractiveness and Favourableness of Character on Liking

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Abstract
40 subjects gave ratings of liking for photographs of 24 females who were either physically attractive or unattractive and who were described as having a favourable or unfavourable character. Contrary to expectancy-value theory, both attractiveness and character contributed significantly to the ratings of liking, although character had a stronger effect. In addition, females were more influenced by character than were males, while males were more influenced by attractiveness than were females. It is suggested that the joint effects of attractiveness and character on the ratings of liking can be accounted for by a general reward theory of interpersonal attraction.