Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Semester of Degree Completion
1976
Thesis Director
John J. Rearden
Abstract
A total of 230 students, 122 high school and 108 junior college students viewed a taped presentation of a counselor who was presented as either attractive or unattractive in physical appearance. Another group just heard the audio portion of the attractive tape. Students then rated their impressions of the counselor on 12 personal traits and their perceived helpfulness of the counselor on 16 problems. The attractive counselor was perceived to be significantly more attractive and professional than the unattractive counselor. The attractive counselor was not seen as significantly more helpful with any of the 16 problems presented. The unattractive counselor was perceived to be significantly more helpful with a drug addiction problem than the attractive counselor. The results indicate that on overall helpfulness and personality traits there were no significant differences. These results are discussed in regard to the degree of physical attractiveness of the two counselor presentations.
Recommended Citation
Cheska, Jodell Lorna, "Initial Impact of Physical Attractiveness on a Counselor's Perceived Helpfulness and Rated Personality Traits" (1976). Masters Theses. 3459.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/3459
