In a pre-registered behavioral experiment, we examined the causal effect of attractiveness on expectations of generosity and the effect of generosity behavior on perceived attractiveness. In line with our first hypothesis, the results of the experiment showed that good-looking people were expected to be more generous. More importantly, however, the results also showed that people who engaged in prosocial behavior also were perceived as more attractive. The study thus highlights a dynamic, bi-directional relationship between attractiveness and behavior.
Author(s)
Kajsa Hansson, Hooman Habibnia, Minou Goetze, Susann Fiedler
Title on the publication
The beauty of prosocial behavior: The bi-directional link between attractiveness and prosocial behavior
Link to the publication
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167268124000192