Perceptions of Plagiarisers: The Influence of Target Physical Attractiveness, Transgression Severity, and Sex on Attributions of Guilt and Punishment

Swami, Viren and Arthey, Elizabeth and Furnham, Adrian (2017) Perceptions of Plagiarisers: The Influence of Target Physical Attractiveness, Transgression Severity, and Sex on Attributions of Guilt and Punishment. Body Image, 22. pp. 144-147. ISSN 1873-6807

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Abstract

The attractiveness-leniency effect (ALE) suggests that physically attractive targets are less likely to be perceived as guilty compared to less attractive targets. Here, we tested the ALE in relation to attributions of students who have committed plagiarism. British adults (N = 165) were shown one of eight vignette-photograph pairings varying in target sex (female/male), physical attractiveness (high/low), and transgression severity (serious/minor), and provided attributions of guilt and severity of punishment. Analyses of variance revealed significant interactions between attractiveness and transgression severity for both dependent measures. Attractive targets were perceived as guiltier and deserving of more severe punishments in the serious transgression condition, but there was no significant difference between attractive and less attractive targets in the minor transgression condition. These results are discussed in terms of a reverse attribution bias, in which attractive individuals are judged more negatively when they fail to live up to higher standards of conduct.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Keywords:	attractiveness bias, attractiveness-leniency effect, physical attractiveness, plagiarism
Faculty:	ARCHIVED Faculty of Science & Technology (until September 2018)
Depositing User:	Viren Swami
Date Deposited:	05 Jul 2017 08:46
Last Modified:	09 Sep 2021 18:58
URI:	https://arro.anglia.ac.uk/id/eprint/701942

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