Effects of Beardedness on Person Perception

Abstract

The present study examined the hypothesis that a bearded man would be perceived less favorably than a non-bearded man. Beardedness, sex, and geographic information (West Coast vs local vs no information) were varied in a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial design. Results did not support the hypothesis and indicated that the bearded man was perceived more favorably than his non-bearded counterpart on 7 of 27 adjective dimensions and less favorably on one. Ss' written impressions were consistent with these results and showed a marked willingness to describe the other person in great detail. Results were discussed within the framework of the stereotype literature.