How exposure to attractive or unattractive others affects judgements of attractiveness of yourself and others

Viewing attractive women can negatively influence mens' judgements of the attractiveness of average looking women. This is called The Charlie's Angels Effect (Kenrick and Gutierres, 1980). This study examined whether a similar effect would be found for female subjects. Eighty-three female university students viewed yearbook photographs of either attractive females (HF), unattractive females (LF), attractive males (HM), unattractive males (LM), or no pictures. After viewing the photographs, participants rated photographs of average-looking men and women. They also rated their own physical attractiveness and completed the Stanley Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory. The ratings of average looking men were influenced by exposure to attractive or unattractive men. Women exposed to highly attractive men rated average looking men as less attractive and conversely women exposed to less attractive men rated average looking men as more attractive. The results demonstrates that the Charlie's Angels effect is evident in women when judging the attractiveness of men. No effect was found self-evaluations, on judging the attractiveness of other women or on the subjects' self-esteem scores.