Physical Attractiveness, Personality, and Social Reactions to Peer Pressure

Abstract

Following a hypo-deductive theoretical rationale, the relationship between physical attributes, personality development, and susceptibility to peer pressure was assessed. Male and female college students (N = 181) responded to several personality measures previously reported as characteristics attributed to physical attractiveness and a new measure designed to assess peer pressure influences (Dilemmas Test for College Students). Peer-ratings and self-perceptions of facial attractiveness, body form, and general appearance were gathered. Physically attractive persons, in comparison to their lesser attractive peers, were more likely to have internalized socially desirable personality characteristics and show resistance to peer pressure influences. Further, some evidence suggested that attractiveness was related to the internalization of cognitive-social characteristics for males and cognitive-evaluative characteristics for females.