Post by Kukul-Kan on Mar 26, 2004 9:09:32 GMT -5
Inconsistency in women’s hair color attractiveness studies
Overall the research on women’s hair color is somewhat inconsistent. Blondes seem to be viewed as more beautiful than either brunette or redheads (Clayson and Maughan, 1986; Feinman and Gill, 1978; Lawson, 1971; Rich and Cash, 1993). In some studies however, men seemed to prefer brunettes, and red hair was seen as comparable to blondes in attractiveness (Clayson and Klassen, 1989; Davis, 1990; Jacobi and Cash, 1994; Kyle and Mahler, 1996; Lawson, 1971). In others, redheads are seen as least attractive of all hair colors, but this may be the result of changing trends (Clayson and Klassen, 1989; Feinman and Gill, 1978; Rich and Cash, 1993; Roll and Verinis, 1971). Blondes were depicted as rather feminine and with qualities such as interesting and warm (Clayson and Maughan, 1986; Lawson, 1971). Brunettes were also typically seen as possessing valuable interpersonal qualities (Clayson and Maughan, 1986; Lawson, 1971). They, along with redheads, may also be seen as being more intellectual than their blond contemporaries (Clayson and Maughan, 1986; Lawson, 1971). These results are rather discrepant in some areas and it may be due to the differences in methodology, where some studies use photos and others use descriptions. In the case of descriptions, individuals may have different images of women with each respective hair color and with less information to go off of than a photo, stereotypes may play a larger role in these evaluations.
Another limitation to be considered is that the majority of this research has been done on college students, presumably for reasons of accessibility, making it difficult to generalize results to the greater population. Finally, these studies are self-report studies and rely on participants to know how they actually perceive and might react to the stimulus. While past research is relevant, it may be more informative to use actual situations to determine whether interactions between individuals with specific hair colors do in fact differ.
www.mnstate.edu/nickell/classes/psy320/Student%20example%20paper.pdf
Overall the research on women’s hair color is somewhat inconsistent. Blondes seem to be viewed as more beautiful than either brunette or redheads (Clayson and Maughan, 1986; Feinman and Gill, 1978; Lawson, 1971; Rich and Cash, 1993). In some studies however, men seemed to prefer brunettes, and red hair was seen as comparable to blondes in attractiveness (Clayson and Klassen, 1989; Davis, 1990; Jacobi and Cash, 1994; Kyle and Mahler, 1996; Lawson, 1971). In others, redheads are seen as least attractive of all hair colors, but this may be the result of changing trends (Clayson and Klassen, 1989; Feinman and Gill, 1978; Rich and Cash, 1993; Roll and Verinis, 1971). Blondes were depicted as rather feminine and with qualities such as interesting and warm (Clayson and Maughan, 1986; Lawson, 1971). Brunettes were also typically seen as possessing valuable interpersonal qualities (Clayson and Maughan, 1986; Lawson, 1971). They, along with redheads, may also be seen as being more intellectual than their blond contemporaries (Clayson and Maughan, 1986; Lawson, 1971). These results are rather discrepant in some areas and it may be due to the differences in methodology, where some studies use photos and others use descriptions. In the case of descriptions, individuals may have different images of women with each respective hair color and with less information to go off of than a photo, stereotypes may play a larger role in these evaluations.
Another limitation to be considered is that the majority of this research has been done on college students, presumably for reasons of accessibility, making it difficult to generalize results to the greater population. Finally, these studies are self-report studies and rely on participants to know how they actually perceive and might react to the stimulus. While past research is relevant, it may be more informative to use actual situations to determine whether interactions between individuals with specific hair colors do in fact differ.
www.mnstate.edu/nickell/classes/psy320/Student%20example%20paper.pdf