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The effect of looks and musical preference on trait inference

THE MAX STERN ACADEMIC COLLEGE OF EMEK YEZREEL, ISRAEL

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

	Abstract

Stereotypes regarding social status lead to the categorization of individuals as belonging to high or low social-status groups, based on little information, such as looks or possession of certain traits. The present study examined the relative effect of looks and musical preference on the inference of other traits relating to high and low social status. Seventy participants were asked to rate photos of eight individuals (four males and four females). Compatible and incompatible pairing of high- and low-status looks and liking for high- and low-status music were created. Findings show that more positive traits were attributed to females, high-status looking individuals and individuals with a preference for high-status music. An interaction between looks and music status was found in which liking for low-status music lowered evaluations in high-status looking individuals, but liking for high-status music did not affect evaluations of low-status looking individuals. Participants’ own musical preference did not consistently affect ratings of photographed individuals.

Key Words: gender, looks, music, social status, stereotypes

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