Story perspectives

Attractiveness Bias: Less Noticed Than Race or Gender

1/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Research in the Journal of Personality & Social Psychology shows attractiveness bias is less noticed than racial or gender bias.
The studies involved 3,591 participants from the United States and the Netherlands.
Attractiveness biases were judged as only slightly unfair, while race or gender biases were seen as significantly less fair.
Led by Bastian Jaeger, the researchers link tolerance for attractiveness bias to unawareness and call for cross-cultural research.

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Story summary

Research in the Journal of Personality & Social Psychology shows attractiveness bias is less noticed than racial or gender bias.
The studies involved 3,591 participants from the United States and the Netherlands.
Attractiveness biases were judged as only slightly unfair, while race or gender biases were seen as significantly less fair.
Led by Bastian Jaeger, the researchers link tolerance for attractiveness bias to unawareness and call for cross-cultural research.