Stereotypes © 2013, John B. Pryor Illinois State University

List some characteristics you might think that these women would possess

List some characteristics you might think that these men would possess

Concepts of beauty vary from culture to culture Woman from Western Europe Zulu Woman Masai Woman - Kenya Indian Woman Thai Dancer

20’s30’s 40’s50’s60’s 70’s 80’s 90’s MissAmericaacross the decades Concepts of beauty vary somewhat over history...

Miss America 2007 Your ideal? Miss America 2010

Miss America 2013 First Miss America of Indian descent

What facial features are found most attractive? Langolis, Roggman, & Musselman (1994) Evolutionary pressures favor human attributes close to the population Evolutionary pressures favor human attributes close to the population Cognitive processes favor prototypical category members Cognitive processes favor prototypical category members “Average-is-attractive” hypothesis “Average-is-attractive” hypothesis Computer average faces are judged as more attractive Computer average faces are judged as more attractive

What is beautiful is good!! Physically attractive people are perceived as more: sensitve, modest, poised, interesting, strong, sociable, kind, warm, socially adept, and sexually responsive

Beauty & Gender Stereotypes Handsome men are perceived as more masculine Beautiful women are perceived as more feminine

Method from Snyder, Tanke, & Berscheid  Males & females isolated in separate rooms  Both fill out general information questionnaire – Photo is taken of male  Experimenter takes up questionnaires  attaches either attractive or unattractive photo of a female to her questionnaire  detaches male photo

Method from Snyder, Tanke, & Berscheid  Experimenter exchanges male/female questionnaires  Male rates his expectations of female  Male & female interact over telephone  Male rates his impressions of female  Independent judges rate their impressions of the females without hearing what the male said

Female’s Interpretation How expectations influence behavior Male’s Expectation Male’s Behavior Male’s Interpretation Female’s Behavior after Darley & Fazio

Newborn infants are assumed to have more positive characteristics if they are attractive as opposed to unattractive Stability of the Attractiveness Stereotype over Lifespan

Newborns don’t show a preference, but one year olds react more favorably to attractive than unattractive adults

Stability of the Attractiveness Stereotype over Lifespan People assume that individuals have more desirable personality traits if they are attractive People assume that individuals have more desirable personality traits if they are attractive

Is there a down side to being physicaly attractive? Other people sometimes attribute an attractive person’s success to good looks Other people sometimes attribute an attractive person’s success to good looks Attractive women often are assumed to be vain & materialistic Attractive women often are assumed to be vain & materialistic Attractiveness is a plus for male politicians, but not female Attractiveness is a plus for male politicians, but not female

Describe yourself 1.Not at all independent Very independent Not at all emotional Very emotional Very passive Very active

4. Not at all able Able to devote self to devote self to devote self completely to others to others Very rough Very gentle Describe yourself

6. Not at all helpful Very helpful to others to others Not at all competitive Very competitive Not at all kind Very kind Describe yourself

9.Not at all aware of Very aware of feelings of others Has difficulty Can make making decisions decisions easily Gives up Never gives very easily up easily Describe yourself

12.Not at all Very self- self- confident confident Feels very inferior Feels very superior Not at all Very understanding of others of others Describe yourself

15. Very cold Very warm in relations in relations with others Goes to pieces Stands up well under pressure under pressure Describe yourself

Masculine Scale: Items 1,3,7,10,11,12,13,16 Feminine Scale: Items 2,4,5,6,8,9,14,15 MEDIANS MalesFemales Masculine Scale 2321 Feminine Scale 2225 Scoring the PAQ

Androgynous Traditional Feminine Traditional Masculine Undifferentiated Above Median for Masculine Below Median for Masculine Above Median for Feminine Above Median for Feminine Below Median for Feminine Below Median for Feminine

Androgyny: definition - having characteristics of both sexes Greek roots: andr --man gyne --woman

Bem’s Flexibility Hypothesis Androgynous females can act more independent if the situation calls for independence. Androgynous males can act more caring (nurturent) if the situation calls for nurturence

Which pair of strangers hits it off more? Androgynous Male & Androgynous Female Androgynous Male & Sex-typed Female Sex-typed Male & Androgynous Female Sex-typed Male & Sex-typed Female from Ickes & Layden

Experimental Design from Andersen & Bem