Physical attractiveness and criminal justice processing: results from a longitudinal sample of youth and young adults

Citation

Beaver, Kevin M.; Boccio, Cashen; Smith, Sven; & Ferguson, Chris J. (2019). Physical attractiveness and criminal justice processing: results from a longitudinal sample of youth and young adults. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. pp. 1-13

Abstract

A substantial body of research examining the role that attractiveness plays in a wide range of outcomes has revealed that attractiveness is a beneficial characteristic across multiple domains of life, including some related to crime and the criminal justice system. The current study uses these findings as a springboard to examine the potential association between attractiveness and multiple measures of criminal justice processing, including being arrested, being convicted, being sentenced to probation and being incarcerated. Analysis of data drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health revealed that more attractive persons were less likely to be arrested and convicted than less attractive persons, but there was no association with odds of being sentenced to probation or incarcerated. Follow-up analyses revealed that the beneficial effect of being attractive was confined solely to females. We discuss possible reasons for these results and provide suggestions for future research.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2019.1618750

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Psychiatry, Psychology and Law

Author(s)

Beaver, Kevin M.
Boccio, Cashen
Smith, Sven
Ferguson, Chris J.

Year Published

2019

Pages

1-13

ISSN/ISBN

1321-8719

DOI

10.1080/13218719.2019.1618750

Reference ID

6778