Aim: find if attractiveness of offender gets lighter punishment unless crime related (e.g. swindling)
Sample: 120 mock jurors (60 male and female) - college students
Method: 3 groups: told female defendant was attractive, told wasn't attractive, told nothing. each group split into 2: told about burglary/fraud. cases strongly implied that they were guilty. Subjects asked to recommend sentence (1 - 15 years)
Results: no difference found between gender of jurors in terms of sentencing. Swindle: attractive - 5.45 years, unattractive - 4.35, control - 4.35. Burglary: 2.8, 5.2, 5.1.
Conclusions: attractive people treated more generously - perceived less dangerous, more virtuous. if beauty is 'mis-used' then more dangerous resulting in stiffer sentencing.
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