Locus-of-control and self-esteem as a function of physical attractiveness

This study sought to explore contradictions in stereotypes about physically attractive people. It was observed that while favorable characteristics tend to be imputed to attractive people, pejorative characteristics are imputed to a particular subset of attractive people, i.e. professional models. It was suggested that this reflects actual differences between models and highly attractive non-models (HANMs). It was further suggested that attractiveness plays a more central role in the self-concept of models than of HANMs, and that this is a key factor in the differences between these groups.; Two measures associated with psychological well-being--locus of control and self-esteem--were studied. It was hypothesized that models (N = 30) would score higher in the external direction on the locus of control measure than the HANM group (N = 30) or a control group (N = 30), and that models would score lower on self-esteem than the HANM group or the control group. Female subjects were used. The models and the HANMs were matched for attractiveness. Interrater agreement for judges' ratings of attractiveness was 85 percent across all subjects.; An analysis of variance design was utilized. The assumption that attractiveness was more salient to the models than to the other groups was confirmed by a manipulation check. Data analysis did not provide support for the research hypotheses. There were no differences among the groups on self-esteem. There were no differences between the models and the controls on locus of control; however, there was a trend towards more external locus of control scores in the HANM group. Analysis of demographic data found no differences among the groups.; The discussion focused on mitigating factors in the methodology and on the possibility that attractiveness may contribute to an external locus of control unless it is deliberately used to one's advantage. Suggestions for research included a longitudinal study of the relationship between attractiveness and psychological well-being.