The Effects of Racial Context on the Perception of Physical Attractiveness

• Published in: Sociometry Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 525 - 535
• Main Authors: Moss, Martin K., Miller, Richard, Page, Richard A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Sociological Association 01-12-1975
• Subjects: Analysis of variance; Black people; Group pressure; Perceptual similarity; Personality psychology; Prejudices; Social beliefs; Social interaction; Social psychology; White people
• ISSN: 0038-0431; 2325-7938
• DOI: 10.2307/2786365

Two studies are reported in which the effects of interacial context on ratings of physical attractiveness were investigated. White Ss rated the attrativeness of black and white females whose photos were viewed in one of four context conditions - all black, all white, predominantly black, or predominantly white. In Experiment I, it was found that in homogeneous contexts (all black and all white), there were no differences in the ratings of white and black females. However, in heterogeneous contexts (predominantly black or white) ratings of white females were significantly enhanced in black contexts while ratings of black females were significantly lowered in white contexts. In Experiment II, it was found that black and white females did not differ in rated attractiveness in homogeneous contexts, while white females were seen as significantly more attractive than black females in heterogeneous contexts. The implications of these findings are discussed.