CAUSAL INFERENCES AND RESPONSIBILITY ATTRIBUTIONS CONCERNING AN HIV-POSITIVE TARGET - THE DOUBLE-EDGED-SWORD OF PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS

The effect of physical attractiveness on inferences regarding possible mode of HIV infection, responsibility for infection, and possession o f personal characteristics was investigated Male and female university undergraduates (n = 180) read a description of an HIV-positive male t arget whose physical attractiveness was experimentally manipulated to be high, low, or neutral. No information on how HIV was acquired was p rovided. Results indicated that an attractive target was more likely t o be perceived as having acquired the virus through heterosexual relat ions. An unattractive target was more likely to be seen as having cont racted HIV through homosexual relations, shared-needle drug use, and u nlucky events. However, the physically attractive target was perceived as significantly more responsible for his condition. Results support both past research demonstrating advantages conferred upon physically attractive individuals and the existence of a complex relationship bet ween physical attractiveness, inferred sexual activity, and behavioral responsibility.