Physical Attractiveness, Opportunity, and Success in Everyday Exchange
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Date
1998-05
Authors
Mulford, Matthew
Orbell, John
Shatto, Catherine
Stockard, Jean
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Chicago Press
Abstract
The role of perceived physical attractiveness in everyday exchange
is addressed using a laboratory paradigm that examines both play-versus-
not-play and cooperate-versus-defect choices in an ecology
of available prisoner’s dilemma games. The analysis considers the
actions of both subject and other in encounters where exchange relationships
are possible and include perceptions of others’ and own
physical attractiveness. Results indicate that subjects are more likely
to enter play and to cooperate with others they find attractive. Men
who see themselves as more attractive more often cooperate than
other men, while women who see themselves as more attractive less
often cooperate than other women. In addition, subjects who rate
themselves as highly attractive are more likely to cooperate with
others they see as also highly attractive. Subjects expect others
whom they see as attractive to cooperate more often. At the same
time, the effect of perceived attractiveness on choice is independent
of these expectations, supporting the hypothesis that attractiveness
is a “taste” or “benefit” for actors in exchange relationships.
Description
28 pages
Keywords
Play-versus-not-play, Cooperate-versus-defect, Prisoner's Dilemma
Citation
Mulford, M., Orbell, J., Catherine, S., & Stockard, J. (1998). Physical Attractiveness, Opportunity, and Success in Everyday Exchange. American Journal of Sociology, 103(6), 1565—1592. https://doi.org/10.1086/231401