Contemporary psychology, Vol. 12 No. 1, 2009.
Original scientific paper
Physical attractiveness as an indicator of sociometic status: The moderating efect of self-esteem and social anxiety
Darija Zubić
; Puls d.o.o.
Josip Burušić
orcid.org/0000-0002-0933-2189
; Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar
Abstract
This investigation, which included 325 participants from several Zagreb high schools, studied the relationship between physical attractiveness and sociometric status, with special emphasis on whether self-respect and social anxiety are characteristics which influence the connection between physical attractiveness and sociometric status. The results revealed a significant connection between physical attractiveness and sociometric status. Persons judged to be more physically attractive enjoy a better social standing among their peers. Apart from physical attractiveness, self-respect is important to the sociometric status of women while the men also value the absence of social anxiety. An important finding of this study indicates a significant moderatory influence of self-respect on the connection of physical attractiveness and sociometric status – this connection is weaker among participants with high self-respect than is the case among those with lower self-respect, who consider physical attractiveness to be more important in the attainment of higher social status in a group of peers.
Keywords
sociometric status; physical attractiveness; self-respect; social anxiety
Hrčak ID:
82657
URI
Publication date:
15.6.2009.
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