Abstract
Facial pictures of black and white delinquents were significantly less attractive than pictures of corresponding groups of high school students, as judged by same-race raters. Significant differences were found among the white delinquents, but not among the black, for Quay's four behavioral dimensions of delinquency. Black delinquents were significantly darker in skin color than the black high school students, and lightness of skin color was positively correlated with physical attractiveness ratings made by both black and white raters, indicating that neither race has yet assimilated the saying “black is beautiful.” This and other evidence suggest that facial attractiveness may be causal in delinquency.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Berscheid, E., Dion, K., Walster, E., & Walster, G. M. Physical attractiveness and dating choice: A test of the matching hypothesis.Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 1971,7, 173–189.
Borkovec, T. D. Autonomic reactivity to sensory stimulation in psychopathic, neurotic and normal delinquents.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1970,35, 217–222.
Brislin, R. W., & Lewis, S. A. Dating and physical attractiveness: Replication.Psychological Reports, 1968,22, 976.
Brody, E. B. Color and identity conflict in young boys.Psychiatry, 1963,26, 188–200.
Brown, H. R.Die nigger die. New York: The Dial Press, 1969.
Bullough, B.Social psychological barriers to housing desegregation. University of California: The Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics, 1969.
Byrne, D. Attitudes and attraction. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.),Advances in experimental social psychology, Vol. 4. New York: Academic Press, 1969.
Byrne, D., Ervin, C. R., & Lamberth, J. C. Continuity between the experimental study of attraction and “real life” computer dating.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1970,16, 157–165.
Cavior, N. Physical attractiveness, perceived attitude similarity, and interpersonal attraction among fifth and eleventh grade boys and girls. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Houston, 1970.
Cavior, N., & Boblett, P. J. Physical attractiveness of dating versus married couples.Proceedings of the 80th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, 1972,7, 175–176.
Cavior, N., & Dokecki, P. R. Physical attractiveness and interpersonal attraction among fifth grade boys: A replication with Mexican children. Paper presented at the meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association: St. Louis, Mo.: Apr. 25, 1970.
Cavior, N., & Dockecki, P. R. Physical attractiveness, perceived attitude similarity, and academic achievement as contributors to interpersonal attraction among adolescents.Development Psychology, 1973,8, in press.
Cavior, N., & Miller, K. Physical attractiveness, attitude similarity, and length of acquaintance as contributors to interpersonal attraction among adolescents. Unpublished manuscript, West Virginia University, 1972.
Coombs, R. H., & Kenkel, W. F. Sex differences in dating aspirations and satisfaction with computer-selected partners.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1966,28, 62–66.
Dion, K. Physical attractiveness and evaluations of children's transgressions.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1972,24, 207–213.
Dion, K., Berscheid, E., & Walster, E. What is beautiful is good.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1972,24, 285–290.
Drake, S. C., & Cayton, H. R.Black metropolis. New York: Harper & Row, 1962.
Edwards, F.The Negro professional class. Glencoe, Ill.: The Free Press, 1959.
Frazier, E. F.Black bourgeoisie: The rise of a new middle class in the United States. New York: Collier Books, 1962.
Glueck, S., & Glueck, E.Unraveling juvenile delinquency. New York: Harper, 1950.
Kurtzberg, R. L., Safar, H., & Cavior, N. Surgical and social rehabilitation of adult offenders.Proceedings of the 76th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, 1968,3, 649–650.
Lincoln, C. Color and group identity in the United States.Daedalus, 1967,96, 527–541.
Miller, A. G. Role of physical attractiveness in impression formation.Psychonomic Science, 1970,19, 241–243.
Murstein, B. I. Physical attractiveness and marital choice.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1972,22, 8–12.
Orris, J. B. Visual monitoring performance in three subgroups of male delinquents.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1969,74, 227–237.
Perrin, F. A. C. Physical attractiveness and repulsiveness.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1921,4, 203–217.
Pope, B. Socioeconomic contrasts in children's peer culture prestige values.Genetic Psychology Monographs, 1953,48, 157–220.
Quay, H. C. Patterns of aggression, withdrawal and immaturity. In H. C. Quay & J. S. Werry (Eds.),Psychopathological disorders of childhood. New York: Wiley, 1972.
Quay, H. C., & Parsons, L. B. The differential behavioral classification of the juvenile offender. (Federal Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice) Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1971.
Ransford, H. E. Skin color, life chances and anti-white attitudes.Social Problems, 1970,18, 164–179.
Roff, M., & Brody, D. S. Appearance and choice status during adolescence.Journal of Personality, 1953,36, 347–356.
Sheldon, W. H.Varieties of delinquent youth: An introduction to constitutional psychiatry. New York: Harper, 1949.
Silverman, I. Physical attractiveness and courtship.Sexual Behavior, Sept. 1971, 22–25.
Skrzypek, G. J. Effect of perceptual isolation and arousal on anxiety, complexity preference and novelty preference in psychopathic and neurotic delinquents.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1969,74, 321–329.
Staffieri, J. R. A study of social stereotype of body image in children.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1967,1, 101–104.
Stevenson, H. W., & Stewart, E. C. A developmental study of racial awareness in young children.Child Development, 1958,29, 399–409.
Stroebe, W., Insko, C. A., Thompson, V. D., & Layton, B. D. Effects of physical attractiveness, attitude similarity and sex on various aspects of interpersonal attraction.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1971,18, 79–91.
U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Robert F. Kennedy Youth Center. Differential treatment... A way to begin. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1970.
Walster, E., Aronson, V., Abrahams, D., & Rottman, L. Importance of physical attractiveness in dating behavior.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1966,4, 508–516.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
These studies were conducted with the cooperation of the staff of the Robert F. Kennedy Youth Center, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice. The center is not responsible for the contents of this report; the report does not necessarily represent the Center's views. The portion of this paper dealing with the white offenders was presented at the meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Boston, Massachusetts, April 1972.
The authors would like to thank Hayne W. Reese for his assistance.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cavior, N., Howard, L.R. Facial attractiveness and juvenile delinquency among black and white offenders. J Abnorm Child Psychol 1, 202–213 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00916114
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00916114