The Influence Of Intergroup Contact On The Perception Of Color, Facial Attractiveness, Personality And Life Outcome Success

Researches about facial attractiveness play an important part in the psychological areas. Many theories and empirical studies have been done abroad, while researches about relations between intergroup contact and skin color as well as facial attractiveness are still empty in China.To explore:(1) the effects of intergroup contact and skin color on the perceived facial attractiveness;(2) the relations between facial attractiveness and personality as well as life outcome success. Two experiments are included, both are2(gender of participants)*2(intergroup contact)*2(skin color of the stimuli)*2(gender of the stimuli) between-subject design.The results show that:people rate dark-skinned faces higher than light-skinned ones; intergroup contact has an effect on perceived facial attractiveness, people contacting regularly with the black give dark-skinned faces higher ratings than those having no intergroup experience; there is an interaction effect between gender of participants and skin color of the stimuli, men have preferences for light-skinned faces while women prefer dark-skinned; evaluations for female facial attractiveness are more easily influenced by skin color; men are evaluated more positively than women and dark-skinned faces get more positive assessment than light-skinned ones on personality evaluation, people contacting regularly with the black give higher personality ratings than those having no intergroup experience; when it comes to the eight variables defining life outcome success, gender of the participants and stimuli, intergroup contact, skin color have different effects on perceived life outcome success. Limitations and implications are discussed at the end of this research.