Age-dependent differences in the relationship between physical attractiveness and the
social perceptions of acquainted classmates were investigated in children three
through ten years of age. Children were shown photographs of attractive and
unattractive, sameage, known peers and indicated which of their classmates they
liked, disliked, and viewed as most likely to exhibit prosocial, antisocial, and
competence behaviors. In general, attractive children were viewed more positively as
age increased. However, contrary to the 'beauty-is-good' stereotype, attractive boys
were selected more often than unattractive boys for negative categories as age increased.
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