Sequential effects in judgements of attractiveness: the influences of face race and sex.

ABSTRACT: In perceptual decision-making, a person's response on a given trial is influenced by their response on the immediately preceding trial. This sequential effect was initially demonstrated in psychophysical tasks, but has now been found in more complex, real-world judgements. The similarity of the current and previous stimuli determines the nature of the effect, with more similar items producing assimilation in judgements, while less similarity can cause a contrast effect. Previous research found assimilation in ratings of facial attractiveness, and here, we investigated whether this effect is influenced by the social categories of the faces presented. Over three experiments, participants rated the attractiveness of own- (White) and other-race (Chinese) faces of both sexes that appeared succe

SUBMITTER: Kramer RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3857852 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature