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Perceptions of Plagiarisers: The Influence of Target Physical Attractiveness, Transgression Severity, and Sex on Attributions of Guilt and Punishment

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posted on 2023-08-30, 14:46 authored by Viren Swami, Elizabeth Arthey, Adrian Furnham
The attractiveness-leniency effect (ALE) suggests that physically attractive targets are less likely to be perceived as guilty compared to less attractive targets. Here, we tested the ALE in relation to attributions of students who have committed plagiarism. British adults (N = 165) were shown one of eight vignette-photograph pairings varying in target sex (female/male), physical attractiveness (high/low), and transgression severity (serious/minor), and provided attributions of guilt and severity of punishment. Analyses of variance revealed significant interactions between attractiveness and transgression severity for both dependent measures. Attractive targets were perceived as guiltier and deserving of more severe punishments in the serious transgression condition, but there was no significant difference between attractive and less attractive targets in the minor transgression condition. These results are discussed in terms of a reverse attribution bias, in which attractive individuals are judged more negatively when they fail to live up to higher standards of conduct.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

22

Page range

144-147

Publication title

Body Image

ISSN

1873-6807

Publisher

Elsevier

File version

  • Accepted version

Language

  • eng

Legacy posted date

2017-07-05

Legacy creation date

2017-07-01

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

ARCHIVED Faculty of Science & Technology (until September 2018)

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