Looks Could Kill: How Good Looks Can Alter Justice and Job Prospects

Attractive people often enjoy numerous advantages, from the workplace to the social scene. However, the psychological phenomenon known as "the halo effect" can have profound implications, not all of them positive. When someone is highly attractive, they are often automatically attributed with positive traits like altruism, intelligence, and stability—an invisible "halo" seems to shine above them. This effect helps explain why appearance discrimination is rampant not only in the workplace and dating scenes but also in less expected places like the court system

Yes you heard that right, the court system! Believe it or not, attractiveness can significantly sway legal outcomes. Research has indicated that physical appearance plays a role in sentencing, with more attractive defendants often receiving milder sentences. Conversely, those deemed less attractive might face harsher penalties. In essence, if looks could kill, they can also save your neck. For those not blessed with supermodel features, let's just say the gavel hits a bit harder.

Further studies have shown that for misdemeanors, judges are likely to impose higher fines on less attractive individuals, with fines increasing as perceived attractiveness decreases. Additionally, feminine features in female offenders can lead to assumptions about a lack of aggressive or criminal tendencies, potentially influencing sentencing.

Yet, being attractive isn't always beneficial. In environments like workplaces or schools, good-looking individuals may encounter hostility from colleagues or superiors of the same sex, who might view them as threats. This dynamic can even extend to job interviews, where attractive candidates are sometimes less successful when interviewed by someone of the same sex, due to perceived competition.

Next time you find yourself making a snap judgment about someone, whether in a professional setting or personal interaction, take a moment to consider whether the halo effect—or its absence—is coloring your perception. Are you unconsciously favoring or penalizing someone based on their looks? Recognizing these biases is the first step towards fairer, more objective interactions.

Sources for Nerds:

1. Beaver KM, Boccio C, Smith S, Ferguson CJ. Physical attractiveness and criminal justice processing: results from a longitudinal sample of youth and young adults. Psychiatr Psychol Law. 2019 Jul 8;26(4):669-681. doi: 10.1080/13218719.2019.1618750. PMID: 31984103; PMCID: PMC6762156.

2. Conner Bell, Gavin Lee, Lynn Pazzani & Mateja Vuk (2019): If Looks Could Kill: Do Characteristics of Female Offenders Influence Death Penalty Sentencing Decisions?, Women & Criminal Justice, DOI: 10.1080/08974454.2019.1688223