The Effect of Physical Attractiveness on the Perception of Attitude Similarity

Male and female college students' (total N = 220) perception of attitude similarity to opposite sex others of either high, medium, or low physical attractiveness was measured. This was accomplished by using the discrepancy between an S's response to a 15 item attitude questionnaire pertaining both to self and to a 5 "X 7" full length color photograph previously rated on physical attractiveness. The major result indicated that perceived attitude similarity increased as the rated attractiveness of the photograph increased. This effect was greater for females than males; the effect of low attractiveness was greater than high attractiveness.