Blinded by the beauty of how the halo effect makes us choose the wrong people

In the human brain 30% of the nerve cells of the cortex are busyThe Vision Thing: Mainly in the Brain the processing of visual information. We have special neuronsNeurons in the human visual cortex that respond to faces facial recognition, and they work for a sixth of a second.

With these powerful tools it is not surprising that the evaluation of people, we rely primarily on their looks. This feature leads to errors in the choice of friends, partners and employees, and it happens due to the halo effect.

What kind of effect

Effect halo or halo effectHalo Effect, Occurs when the total the impression of a man transferred to his personal characteristics. In other words, when the person you love, you think immediately that it is not only beautiful, but also intelligent, friendly, successful and generally good on all fronts.

Halo effect foundA constant error in psychological ratings in 1915, during the experiment time in two industrial corporations. It turned out that the assessment of selected employees at different indicators converge strikingly: they are smart and tech-savvy, and reliable. Scientists realized that unrealistic points and Valuators unconsciously inflate them because they are good for these people.

The same was observed in the military. When the officers described his subordinates, some was just the perfect image: physical development, intelligent, with a strong character and leadership qualities. The connection between physical attractiveness and other criteria was strongest.

People are not specifically attributed to "pets" good features. They sincerely believe so, and are not aware of the distortion. In one experiment,The Halo Effect: Evidence for Unconscious Alteration of Judgments American students have given to see an interview with the instructor, who spoke with a European accent. Scientists have recorded two versions: one speaker was welcoming and friendly, and in another - cold and callous.

The students who watched "warm" interview, said that the emphasis they like, and the man himself, too. Those who went to record with "unfriendly type", claimed he infuriates them. At the same time, when students were asked what is the reason, they called it the focus, not the other features of the instructor.

In this experiment, we are talking about the general impression of a person, not about physical beauty. But, as practice shows, visual appeal greatly affects the overall impression.

As beauty affects people assessment

Attractive people in general appreciateMaxims or myths of beauty? A meta-analytic and theoretical review more positively, with no matter whether or not they are familiar. This is true for both men and women, adults and children. Nice big love, regardless of culture. What's interesting, in different countries Beauty criteria about the same.

Automatically find attractiveThe Attractiveness Halo Effect and the Babyface Stereotype in Older and Younger Adults: Similarities, Own-Age Accentuation, and OA Positivity Effects more healthy, successful and competent. Impression of the person affectedBlinded by Beauty: Attractiveness Bias and Accurate Perceptions of Academic Performance the choice of policy, assessment of leadership skills, legal affairs and even the attitude of parents to their own children.

Teachers are guided by the appearance of making predictions about the success of freshmen, works pretty girls seemBeauty is talent: Task evaluation as a function of the performer's physical attractiveness students better, even if objectively they are very mediocre.

Distortion increases even more if the estimateA Direct Study of Halo Effect very beautiful or ugly people, and if the judgeThe Attractiveness Halo Effect and the Babyface Stereotype in Older and Younger Adults: Similarities, Own-Age Accentuation, and OA Positivity Effects peers. The closer in age person, the more important it external data.

So people who have won the genetic lottery and were born with beautiful, lives easier, than not so appealing.

As the halo effect may interfere

The first impression is often wrong. When you see a photograph of a man, or meet him for the first time, you create a certain image, which then affects your attitude. Analysis of one million opinions about the first impression has shown that people are much more precisely I fooled by first impressions? Reexamining the diagnostic value of appearance-based inferences judge the man as a whole, when you do not see it.

This was confirmed by another experiment, when teachers deprived of the opportunity to focus on the appearance of students, evaluation of academic success steelBlinded by Beauty: Attractiveness Bias and Accurate Perceptions of Academic Performance much more accurate.

The emphasis on appearance does not allow us to assess the human right, whether the applicant, student, or a potential partner. In appearance, you can understandInternal facial features are signals of personality and healthHow much a person is friendly, trusting or neurotic, but she does not say anything about his mind, there are common interests, the ability to create strong relationshipsConscientiousness.

Blinded by the beauty, you can long endure negligent employee, student or lazy unsuitable partner. And what is lousy, you can not do anything about it.

The first impression of the person is created without your knowledge, at the subconscious level. You do not choose to admire someone's appearance or not, do not make a conscious transfer, "Oh, it was beautiful, it means that certain clever and will work well." You just have a feeling that this person is good.

Here you can only advise to remain vigilant and striving for objectivity. Be guided by facts, not intuition, you will protect yourself from at least part of the errors.