This study examined the correlation between preschool judgements of physical attractiveness, sociometric choices and behavioral descriptions of peers. Children's physical attractiveness was evaluated by three adults acquainted with the children, three not acquainted with the children, peers and by the children themselves. Peer's behavioral descriptions were related to: sadness/ happiness; aggression/ not aggression; sociability/ withdrawal; and cooperation/ disturbance. The Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance was administered in order to evaluate children's self-perception. Significant correlations between adults acquainted with the children and peer's evaluations of physical attractiveness and sociometric choices and prosocial behavioral descriptions were found. Results suggest well established connections among affect, physical attractiveness judgements and behavioral descriptions in 5 years old, showing that the stereotype effect decreases as the degree of information about the judged target increases.
Physical attractiveness; preference by peers; behavioural characteristics; self-perception
