The Journal of Psychology
ISSN: 0022-3980 (Print) 1940-1019 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vjrl20
Perceptions of Ugliness in the Mentally Retarded Manny Sternlicht To cite this article: Manny Sternlicht (1978) Perceptions of Ugliness in the Mentally Retarded, The Journal of Psychology, 99:2, 139-142, DOI: 10.1080/00223980.1978.9921453 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00223980.1978.9921453
Published online: 02 Jul 2010.
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Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=vjrl20 Download by: [University of Birmingham]
Date: 06 November 2015, At: 06:11
Publishrtl as a heparate and in 7 h e J o i r r n d c!P P s y r h d o g y . 1978. 99, 139-142
PERCEPTIONS OF UGLINESS I N T H E MENTALLY RETARDED* Yeshiva C’niversify and Psyrhologiral Counselling and Testing Senlircs. N e w York
M A N N YSTERNLICHT
Downloaded by [University of Birmingham] at 06:11 06 November 2015
SUMMARY Thirty male and female retarded adults were asked to draw a picture of a person and then to draw a picture of an ugly person, in order to determine whether broader facial features are a measure of ugliness (as found by McCullers and Staat). Additionally, measures of broadness of facial outline and body outline of the drawings were taken. Although there were no significant differences, there was a trend to exaggerate the drawing of the ugly person, and the rationale for this was discussed.
A.
INTRODUCTION
A recent study by McCullers and Staa! (4)reported that when both black and white college students were asked to draw good-looking and ugly faces, the ugly faces were characterized by broader features. Thus, a common cultural stereotype, shared by both black and white individuals, may be that broad features are judged as less attractive. This present study was designed to determine whether or not the cultural stereotype is also valid with reference to retarded persons, and to secure more information about the phenomenological views that mentally retarded adults maintain.
B.
METHODOLOGY
The Ss of this study consisted of 15 male and 15 female institutionalized moderately mentally retarded adults, ranging in age from 2 1 to 49 years C.4 = 3 3 . 2 ) . Each S was seen individually, and each was asked to draw a picture of a person. Upon completion of this task (and its removal from view), each S was requested to draw a picture of an ugly person. In both
(x
* K i 4 v t . d i n thc Lditorial Office on April 28. 1978. and published immediately at Provincctown. hlawtrhuhetta. C‘opyriuht by The Journal Press. 139
140
J O U R N A L OF PSYCHOLOGY
drawings, the Ss were requested to complete the body of the person in those drawings where this was not spontaneously done (e.g., where only the face was drawn). The drawings of four female and three male Ss were not counted in the results, because these S s either did not cooperate or produced drawings that i n no way resembled figures. The final N , therefore, was 1 1 females and 1 2 males.
Downloaded by [University of Birmingham] at 06:11 06 November 2015
C.
RESULTSA N D DISCUSSION
To test the hypothesis that cultural stereotypes of ugliness connote broader features. the two drawings of each S were compared against each other, and the presence of broader facial features in the “ugly” drawing was noted. Since S was asked to draw the whole person, measurements of broadness of facial outline and body outline also were added. Thus, as can be seen from Table 1. three percentages were computed on the “ugly” pictures, as contrasted with the first drawing: broader facial features, broader face, and broader body. Chi square tests on the total group data ( x 2 = 3 . 3 i , df = 4),on the male group (x? = . 3 3 . df = 2 ) , and on the female group ( x 2 = .29, df = 2) revealed that there were no significant differences between the two sets of drawings. However, although the total group data did not reach the .05 level of significance, i t did approach it (p < ,101. An interesting note, however, is the number of males who did not draw a body (six out of 12) as compared with females (two out of 11). I n addition, there was a tendency for males to draw broader facial features than the females, while the trend for females was to exaggerate the shape of the face. The category that received the greatest number of broader physical responses was the shape of the face (64% of females, 54% of males). Perhaps this is the easiest characteristic for a retarded individual to exaggerate to connote ugliness. Certainly the drawing of facial features would require greater drawing skill. The taking of a broader body outline as a measure of
Subjects s ___.-~_-~ Females Males Total
11
I2 23
Broader facial features (%)
Broader facial outline (76)
Broader body outline (%)
32 50
64 54 59
36
~~
41
14 24
Downloaded by [University of Birmingham] at 06:11 06 November 2015
MANNY STERNLICHT
141
ugliness did not appear to be a valid measure, since 50% of male Ss did not draw a body, when asked to d o so, as compared with 18% of females. To sum up, although there was a tendency for retarded Ss to characterize ugly people by broader physical characteristics, this did not reach statistical significance. One explanation for this could be due to the limited size of the sample. Another explanation might be the reluctance on the part of some Ss to draw a n ugly figure. T h e examiner noticed that the instructions to draw a n ugly person had to be repeated to some Ss a few times. Some of the group responded with what could be characterized as nervous or embarrassed laughter. McCullers a n d Staat similarly reported a reluctance on the part of their Ss. This reluctance might be greater in the retarded, since the drawing of a n ugly person might be a reminder of his own unattractiveness Addi. tionally, the tendency of female Ss not to exaggerate facial features might be a reflection of the greater pressure placed on females for beauty. Finally, the lack of significant differences might be a reflection of the retarded individual’s shift from preoperational thinking to concreteoperational thought. I n a study dealing with normal children’s perception of physical attractiveness, Staffieri ( 5 ) found that a preference for the mesomorphic body type became evident as early as six years of age, although this difference did not become statistically significant until the age of eight. Cavior a n d Lombardi (1) found that interrater reliability on measures of physical attractiveness crystallizes a t about seven or eight years. Similarly, Cross a n d Cross ( 2 ) found no age difference in ratings of physical attractiveness assigned by 17-year-olds a n d adults. Cavior and Lombardi have suggested that this shift occurring a t age seven or eight may be a reflection of the child’s shift from preoperational to concrete-operational thinking, a n d they cite Flavell(3) in explaining the liaisons between logical grouping structures a n d interpersonal interactions. For example, the reciprocal interaction characteristics of concrete operations, but not present in preoperational thought, allow the child to use this thinking style not only in cognitive spheres, but in interpersonal interactions as well. Furthermore, the elementary school child is exposed to older children, who have already developed criteria for judging physical attractiveness.
REFERENCES I.
2
CAVIOR.N . . & LOMBARDI, D. A . Developmental aspects of judgment of physiral attrartiveness in children. Dew Psyfhol.. 1973. 8. 67-71, CROSS,J F & CROSS. J Age. sex. rare, and the perception of farial beauty Deuel Psycho1 , 1971, 5, 433-439
.
142
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY
FLAVELL. J . H . The Developmental Psychology of Jean Piaget. Princeton, N . J.. Van Nostrand, 1963. 4 . MCCULLERS, J. C., & STAAT,J. Draw an ugly man: An inquiry into the dimensions of physical attractiveness, In Proceedings of the Division of Personalify and Sorial Psychology. Washington, D. C . : Amer. Psychol. Assoc.. 1974. Pp. 33-35. 5. STAFFIERI, J. R. A study of social stereotype of body image in children. J . Personal. 6 Soc. Psychol., 1967, 1, 101-104.
3.
YPshiva University 500 West 183 Slreet
Downloaded by [University of Birmingham] at 06:11 06 November 2015
N e w York, K P W York 100.33
ISSN: 0022-3980 (Print) 1940-1019 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vjrl20
Perceptions of Ugliness in the Mentally Retarded Manny Sternlicht To cite this article: Manny Sternlicht (1978) Perceptions of Ugliness in the Mentally Retarded, The Journal of Psychology, 99:2, 139-142, DOI: 10.1080/00223980.1978.9921453 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00223980.1978.9921453
Published online: 02 Jul 2010.
Submit your article to this journal
Article views: 2
View related articles
Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=vjrl20 Download by: [University of Birmingham]
Date: 06 November 2015, At: 06:11
Publishrtl as a heparate and in 7 h e J o i r r n d c!P P s y r h d o g y . 1978. 99, 139-142
PERCEPTIONS OF UGLINESS I N T H E MENTALLY RETARDED* Yeshiva C’niversify and Psyrhologiral Counselling and Testing Senlircs. N e w York
M A N N YSTERNLICHT
Downloaded by [University of Birmingham] at 06:11 06 November 2015
SUMMARY Thirty male and female retarded adults were asked to draw a picture of a person and then to draw a picture of an ugly person, in order to determine whether broader facial features are a measure of ugliness (as found by McCullers and Staat). Additionally, measures of broadness of facial outline and body outline of the drawings were taken. Although there were no significant differences, there was a trend to exaggerate the drawing of the ugly person, and the rationale for this was discussed.
A.
INTRODUCTION
A recent study by McCullers and Staa! (4)reported that when both black and white college students were asked to draw good-looking and ugly faces, the ugly faces were characterized by broader features. Thus, a common cultural stereotype, shared by both black and white individuals, may be that broad features are judged as less attractive. This present study was designed to determine whether or not the cultural stereotype is also valid with reference to retarded persons, and to secure more information about the phenomenological views that mentally retarded adults maintain.
B.
METHODOLOGY
The Ss of this study consisted of 15 male and 15 female institutionalized moderately mentally retarded adults, ranging in age from 2 1 to 49 years C.4 = 3 3 . 2 ) . Each S was seen individually, and each was asked to draw a picture of a person. Upon completion of this task (and its removal from view), each S was requested to draw a picture of an ugly person. In both
(x
* K i 4 v t . d i n thc Lditorial Office on April 28. 1978. and published immediately at Provincctown. hlawtrhuhetta. C‘opyriuht by The Journal Press. 139
140
J O U R N A L OF PSYCHOLOGY
drawings, the Ss were requested to complete the body of the person in those drawings where this was not spontaneously done (e.g., where only the face was drawn). The drawings of four female and three male Ss were not counted in the results, because these S s either did not cooperate or produced drawings that i n no way resembled figures. The final N , therefore, was 1 1 females and 1 2 males.
Downloaded by [University of Birmingham] at 06:11 06 November 2015
C.
RESULTSA N D DISCUSSION
To test the hypothesis that cultural stereotypes of ugliness connote broader features. the two drawings of each S were compared against each other, and the presence of broader facial features in the “ugly” drawing was noted. Since S was asked to draw the whole person, measurements of broadness of facial outline and body outline also were added. Thus, as can be seen from Table 1. three percentages were computed on the “ugly” pictures, as contrasted with the first drawing: broader facial features, broader face, and broader body. Chi square tests on the total group data ( x 2 = 3 . 3 i , df = 4),on the male group (x? = . 3 3 . df = 2 ) , and on the female group ( x 2 = .29, df = 2) revealed that there were no significant differences between the two sets of drawings. However, although the total group data did not reach the .05 level of significance, i t did approach it (p < ,101. An interesting note, however, is the number of males who did not draw a body (six out of 12) as compared with females (two out of 11). I n addition, there was a tendency for males to draw broader facial features than the females, while the trend for females was to exaggerate the shape of the face. The category that received the greatest number of broader physical responses was the shape of the face (64% of females, 54% of males). Perhaps this is the easiest characteristic for a retarded individual to exaggerate to connote ugliness. Certainly the drawing of facial features would require greater drawing skill. The taking of a broader body outline as a measure of
Subjects s ___.-~_-~ Females Males Total
11
I2 23
Broader facial features (%)
Broader facial outline (76)
Broader body outline (%)
32 50
64 54 59
36
~~
41
14 24
Downloaded by [University of Birmingham] at 06:11 06 November 2015
MANNY STERNLICHT
141
ugliness did not appear to be a valid measure, since 50% of male Ss did not draw a body, when asked to d o so, as compared with 18% of females. To sum up, although there was a tendency for retarded Ss to characterize ugly people by broader physical characteristics, this did not reach statistical significance. One explanation for this could be due to the limited size of the sample. Another explanation might be the reluctance on the part of some Ss to draw a n ugly figure. T h e examiner noticed that the instructions to draw a n ugly person had to be repeated to some Ss a few times. Some of the group responded with what could be characterized as nervous or embarrassed laughter. McCullers a n d Staat similarly reported a reluctance on the part of their Ss. This reluctance might be greater in the retarded, since the drawing of a n ugly person might be a reminder of his own unattractiveness Addi. tionally, the tendency of female Ss not to exaggerate facial features might be a reflection of the greater pressure placed on females for beauty. Finally, the lack of significant differences might be a reflection of the retarded individual’s shift from preoperational thinking to concreteoperational thought. I n a study dealing with normal children’s perception of physical attractiveness, Staffieri ( 5 ) found that a preference for the mesomorphic body type became evident as early as six years of age, although this difference did not become statistically significant until the age of eight. Cavior a n d Lombardi (1) found that interrater reliability on measures of physical attractiveness crystallizes a t about seven or eight years. Similarly, Cross a n d Cross ( 2 ) found no age difference in ratings of physical attractiveness assigned by 17-year-olds a n d adults. Cavior and Lombardi have suggested that this shift occurring a t age seven or eight may be a reflection of the child’s shift from preoperational to concrete-operational thinking, a n d they cite Flavell(3) in explaining the liaisons between logical grouping structures a n d interpersonal interactions. For example, the reciprocal interaction characteristics of concrete operations, but not present in preoperational thought, allow the child to use this thinking style not only in cognitive spheres, but in interpersonal interactions as well. Furthermore, the elementary school child is exposed to older children, who have already developed criteria for judging physical attractiveness.
REFERENCES I.
2
CAVIOR.N . . & LOMBARDI, D. A . Developmental aspects of judgment of physiral attrartiveness in children. Dew Psyfhol.. 1973. 8. 67-71, CROSS,J F & CROSS. J Age. sex. rare, and the perception of farial beauty Deuel Psycho1 , 1971, 5, 433-439
.
142
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY
FLAVELL. J . H . The Developmental Psychology of Jean Piaget. Princeton, N . J.. Van Nostrand, 1963. 4 . MCCULLERS, J. C., & STAAT,J. Draw an ugly man: An inquiry into the dimensions of physical attractiveness, In Proceedings of the Division of Personalify and Sorial Psychology. Washington, D. C . : Amer. Psychol. Assoc.. 1974. Pp. 33-35. 5. STAFFIERI, J. R. A study of social stereotype of body image in children. J . Personal. 6 Soc. Psychol., 1967, 1, 101-104.
3.
YPshiva University 500 West 183 Slreet
Downloaded by [University of Birmingham] at 06:11 06 November 2015
N e w York, K P W York 100.33
