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Rowan University

Perceptions of height, attractiveness, and power

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The purpose of this study was to explore how perceptions of physical attractiveness and power changed based on an individual's height and gender. Participants were 117 Rowan University students (53 males and 64 females, mean age = 20.9 years). Students were administered a packet that asked demographic data including their age, sex, height, weight, major, hometown, academic status, and marital status. Upon completion of this data, the students were asked to complete a packet where they viewed 10 target persons that varied in height and sex, then answered a series of questions about their perceptions of the target's attractiveness and power. There was a positive relationship between the height of a male and how powerful he was perceived. Female power ratings were relatively constant, regardless of height. There was also a positive relationship between the height of females and their perceived physical attractiveness, attractiveness scores increased as height increased. Average height males were perceived as the most attractive, and shorter males were rated as least attractive. Tall males were seen as slightly less attractive than average height males.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
M.A. in Mental Health Counseling and Applied Psychology
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Psychology
Year dc:date.available
2004

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Worth, Michelle A.
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Gaer, Eleanor

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/1251
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:rdw.rowan.edu:etd-2251

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Rowan University
Base URL
rdw.rowan.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Worth, Michelle A.. Perceptions of height, attractiveness, and power. Thesis thesis, 2004. https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/1251