FACIAL ATTRACTIVENESS AND PERCEIVED TRUSTWORTHINESS
The Association Between Facial Attractiveness and Perceived Trustworthiness In the Workplace
Steven C. Mesquiti
Southwestern University
FACIAL ATTRACTIVENESS AND PERCEIVED TRUSTWORTHINESS
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I.
The influence of one’s physical attractiveness on their success in the workplace has been
a known factor for many years and is believed to be an influential factor in determining
one’s employability.
a. There are a large variety of positive traits for the workplace that have been
directly linked to attractiveness such as trustworthiness (Link, Saribay, &
Kleisner 2016), intelligence (Talamas, Mavor, & Perrett, 2016), and job
suitability (Hosoda, Stone-Romero, & Coats, 2003).
b. The purpose of the present study is to determine the quality of the association
between an individual’s perceived facial attractiveness and their perceived
trustworthiness in the workplace.
II.
The idea that people who are higher in attractiveness were also found more trustworthy
has led to the hypothesis that there will be a positive association between one’s facial
attractiveness and their perceived trustworthiness in the workplace.
a. Studies have shown that physically attractive people are more likely to be
judged positively than individuals who are not deemed physically attractive
(Langlois et al., 2000).
b. This association between positive judgment and physical attractiveness can
lead to the inference that physically attractive people are more likely to be
perceived as trustworthy in the work place compared to people than other
individuals.
c. This is also reinforced by the idea that trust is essential part of the foundation
for cooperative relationships, which are essential in the workplace (Gil, Boies,
Finegan, & McNally, 2005).
FACIAL ATTRACTIVENESS AND PERCEIVED TRUSTWORTHINESS
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III.
There is supporting evidence for the positive correlation between physical attractiveness
and employment suitability.
a. However, this positive correlation is largely present in jobs that involve
constant interaction with others Johnson, S. K., Podratz, K. E., Dipboye, R. L.,
& Gibbons, E. (2010).
b. There is also a predisposition that there are sex-typed jobs and that certain
genders are deemed “more or less fit” than others based on their physical
attractiveness Hosoda, M., et al. (2003)
IV.
According to previous studies physical attractiveness is another predictor for intelligence,
which is an essential