The Attractiveness of Masked Faces Is Influenced by Race and Mask Attitudes.

ABSTRACT: This study tests the influence of wearing a protective face mask on the perceived attractiveness of the wearer. Participants who identified as White, and who varied in their ideological stance toward mask wearing, rated the attractiveness of facial photographs. The photos varied in baseline attractiveness (low, medium, and high), race (White and Asian), and whether or not the face was wearing a protective mask. Attitudes regarding protective masks were measured after the rating task using a survey to identify participants as either pro- or anti-mask. The results showed that masked individuals of the same race were generally rated as more attractive than unmasked individuals, but that masked individuals of another race were rated as less attractive than unmasked individuals. Moreover, pro-m

SUBMITTER: Dudarev V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9152543 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature