Date Approved

5-11-2004

Embargo Period

5-1-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in Mental Health Counseling and Applied Psychology

Department

Psychology

College

College of Science & Mathematics

Advisor

Gaer, Eleanor

Subject(s)

Rowan University--Students--Attitudes; Interpersonal attraction; Power (Social sciences); Stature

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore how perceptions of physical attractiveness and power changed based on an individual's height and gender. Participants were 117 Rowan University students (53 males and 64 females, mean age = 20.9 years). Students were administered a packet that asked demographic data including their age, sex, height, weight, major, hometown, academic status, and marital status. Upon completion of this data, the students were asked to complete a packet where they viewed 10 target persons that varied in height and sex, then answered a series of questions about their perceptions of the target's attractiveness and power. There was a positive relationship between the height of a male and how powerful he was perceived. Female power ratings were relatively constant, regardless of height. There was also a positive relationship between the height of females and their perceived physical attractiveness, attractiveness scores increased as height increased. Average height males were perceived as the most attractive, and shorter males were rated as least attractive. Tall males were seen as slightly less attractive than average height males.

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