How Does Visible Disability Affect Attractiveness? |
Men rated women without visible disabilities as more attractive than women with visible limb amputations.
Women showed no comparable difference in their ratings of men with and without visible limb amputations.
Women rated men with visible physical disabilities as more emotionally intelligent than men without them.
We often think of attraction as something mysterious—an immediate feeling that simply “clicks.” Yet, within moments of seeing someone, we begin forming impressions of their attractiveness, personality, health, and suitability as a potential partner. What happens when a visible physical disability is part of that first impression?
Assessing Reactions to Visible Limb Amputations
In our recent study, we asked adults in the United Kingdom to evaluate photographs of opposite-sex individuals with and without visible limb amputations. Participants rated each person’s attractiveness, emotional intelligence, and desirability as a short- or long-term partner. The results differed depending on whether participants were evaluating men or........