Physical attractiveness, self-awareness, and mirror-gazing behavior

Abstract

In a field study, 86 students (37 males and 49 females) were observed as they walked past a section of reflecting glass that served as a mirror. The amount of time spent by each subject in gazing at his or her own image was recorded. The physical attractiveness of each participant was rated by experimental observers, and subjects filled out a questionnaire that assessed the degree to which they ordinarily engage in self-focused behavior. For both males and females, time spent in mirror gazing was positively correlated with physical attractiveness. Mirror gazing and self-focusing were unrelated, although self-focusing was positively correlated with attractiveness. © 1983, The psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.