Physical attractiveness and perceptions of deviance

The relationship between physical attractiveness and perceptions of deviance was examined in two school settings (416 boys and girls in grades 6–8 and 2213 boys in grade 10). Physical attractiveness was measured by strangers' ratings of pictures and classmates' sociometric choices in the younger sample, and interviewer ratings in the older sample. In contrast to a fairly extensive experimental literature, physical attractiveness was found to be unrelated to conduct grades, sociometric ratings of aggression by classmates, or student reports of teacher disciplinary actions. Experimental studies, therefore, may exaggerate the importance of appearance in judgments of deviance because they focus on strangers and because they restrict the availability of other information.