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Thesis/Dissertation Information
- Degree Disciplines:
- Psychology
Notes
- Abstract:
- The purpose of this thesis was to examine the effects of attire type on women’s perceptions of men’s attractiveness. Popular belief holds that women love a man in uniform; however, there is little empirical evidence supporting this claim. More specific than the uniform itself, this thesis examined factors that may be associated with the uniform by exploring which traits women associate with men in two different uniform types: police and military. To date, there is no literature focusing exclusively on women’s perceptions of attractiveness of men in police uniform. Previous literature has focused on military uniform; however, the results are inconsistent and the methodologies present several limitations. This study employed a between subjects experimental design to examine women’s perceptions of men’s attractiveness in military and police uniform in comparison to non-uniformed or plain-clothed men. A total of 251 women who identified as heterosexual, between the ages of 18 and 30, were recruited from the Barry University campus and the surrounding communities to complete an online survey in which they were randomly assigned to view two models wearing one of three attire types. All participants completed a demographic form, along with a series of attractiveness scales for each model, a dating status and history form, and a final screening item to ensure they had never seen the males depicted in the photos. Participants in the police uniform condition completed a police opinion and contact scale designed to gather descriptive information about their perceptions of police. A mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) examined the relationship between attire type and overall attractiveness. In addition, secondary, exploratory analyses examined the extent to which each uniform symbolized various desirable qualities as suggested by popular media and previous literature: physical qualities, social status, protective qualities, and chivalry. Results for this study revealed some truth to the notion that women find men in uniform attractive, as one of the models was rated as most attractive in the military uniform, compared to the civilian attire. In addition, models were rated higher for physical qualities (e.g., strength, physical fitness) when wearing a military uniform, compared to the civilian attire. Models received the highest ratings of protective qualities (e.g., heroism, protection) when wearing the military uniform, followed by the police uniform, and then the civilian attire. In addition, models were rated significantly higher for chivalry (e.g., manners) when wearing the military uniform, compared to the civilian attire. These findings may suggest that uniforms symbolize desirable qualities, such as overall attractiveness, aggression, authority and heroism.
- Thesis:
- Thesis (M.S.)--Barry University, 2017.
- Bibliography:
- Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-62).
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- Barry University
- Holding Location:
- Barry University Archives and Special Collections
- Rights Management:
- Copyright Janeli Olivera. Permission granted to Barry University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
- Resource Identifier:
- GT524.O55 2017_OliveraJaneli ( BU-Local )
- Classification:
- GT524.O55 2017 ( lcc )
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