Although each individual has a unique and unique personality , we often judge others on the basis of our first impressions. Given this initial assessment, physically attractive people are judged positively due to a cognitive bias , the halo effect.
The social prestige of beautiful people and the halo effect
In the field of psychology , it is customary to carry out all kinds of research that highlights the connection between personal appreciation and physical beauty . So, most attribute certain human qualities to beautiful people that have nothing to do with beauty. Simply put, we think that ugly people are worse than the prettiest. This way of reasoning has no foundation or logic, but it is nevertheless a widespread trend.
In most cultures, physical attractiveness plays an important role. The pretty ones don’t just draw attention for their appearance, as they are positively valued in relation to their human qualities. We unjustifiably believe that physically attractive men and women are somehow considered better. This self-deception of the mind acts unconsciously and acts as a prejudice. halo effect
The mental mechanism of this cognitive bias can cause great disappointments and all kinds of unfair evaluations.
The halo effect can also explain other types of self-deception. So, when we meet a strong man we are likely to think he will protect us, just as when we meet a musician we believe he is probably someone especially sensitive in other aspects of life. In this way, a physical trait or a specific characteristic of an individual makes us imagine a series of qualities or virtues. halo effect
The halo effect is not a recent discovery, as it was described around 1920 by American psychologist Edward L. Thorndike.
One of the most ingrained cognitive biases
In advertisements usually appear attractive men and women because advertisers know that the halo effect serves to manipulate the minds of consumers. In this way, the potential consumer has the following association of ideas: an actor or actress of obvious physical attractiveness says that a product is interesting, so the consumer automatically thinks that this product might be interesting for him.
The halo effect is present in many contexts: in job interviews , in the marketing industry, or simply in our everyday assessments of other people.
Remember that in most trials, defendants tend to take care of their physical appearance to convey a positive image of themselves (studies show that attractive people have softer sentences than ugly people).
