Physical attractiveness and therapists' perceptions of clients: An examination of sex differences

• Main Author: Bax, Amy Leigh puls
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-1999
• Subjects: Clinical psychology; Psychotherapy
• ISBN: 9780493278742; 0493278745

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of client physical attractiveness, client problem type, client sex, and therapist sex on therapists' evaluations and treatment recommendations for hypothetical clients. Physical attractiveness effects have in the past been summarized by the statement, “what is beautiful is good,” referring to the tendency to attribute more positive personality characteristics to more physically attractive individuals. In the present study, therapists were presented with clinical information about a hypothetical client with an accompanying picture of the client. The pictures used were selected based on physical attractiveness rankings, with high, moderate, and low levels of attractiveness represented. The client was described as having anxiety about either social competence or academic performance. Therapists' treatment recommendations varied based on the presenting problem; however, physical attractiveness, client sex, and therapist sex did not significantly affect therapists' recommendations, except for an interaction of attractiveness, client sex, and therapist sex for expected prognosis without therapy. Overall, these results indicated that therapists did not provide differential treatment recommendations based on client's attractiveness. Since this study presented therapists with limited information, future research could extend the study to include additional clinical information.