Physical attractiveness and its relation to unprovoked and reactive aggression

Studies have linked facial attractiveness to positive outcomes and unattractiveness to negative ones. However, no study has examined whether attractiveness and aggression are related, even though there is a relationship between unattractiveness and risk factors for aggression like neglect and bullying. In this study, 78 men and women engaged in unprovoked and reactive physical aggression tasks, and reactive derogation of a fictitious opponent. The participants were graded on attractiveness by a group of independent raters. The results indicated that for male participants, unattractiveness predicted unprovoked and reactive aggression as strongly as callous/unemotional psychopathic traits. Among female participants, attractiveness predicted derogation of the opponents more strongly than any psychopathic trait. Implications from gene-environment correlation and social role theory perspectives are discussed.

► Unattractiveness has been linked to multiple negative psychosocial outcomes.
► The relationship between attractiveness and aggression remains unexamined.
► Unattractive males displayed more proactive and reactive physical aggression.
► Attractive females displayed more derogation of their opponent.
► (Un)Attractiveness predicts aggression as robustly as callous/unemotional traits.