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Beauty Contest Revisited: The Effects of Perceived Attractiveness, Competence, and Likability on the Electoral Success of German MPs
[journal article]
Abstract We test the effects of physical appearance on electoral outcomes for the 2013 German national elections. We find that a candidate's perceived attractiveness and, to a lesser extent, competence vis‐á‐vis his or her closest contestant increases the chances of winning a direct mandate, while likability... view more
We test the effects of physical appearance on electoral outcomes for the 2013 German national elections. We find that a candidate's perceived attractiveness and, to a lesser extent, competence vis‐á‐vis his or her closest contestant increases the chances of winning a direct mandate, while likability plays a minor role. Additionally, we find the appearance effects to be conditioned by gender, age, and incumbency status. Our study advances existing research in four ways. First, we capture relative differences in appearances, which resembles real‐world situations more closely than absolute measures. Second, we proceed beyond a one‐dimensional assessment of appearance by simultaneously analyzing attractiveness, competence, and likability, including interactions. Third, the central role of parties in the German mixed electoral system makes an especially tough test for appearance‐based effects. Fourth, we use rater response latency to weight our measurement with an assessment of ambivalence.... view less
Keywords
Federal Republic of Germany; representative; election to the Bundestag; voting behavior; election result; social attraction; sympathy; competence; beauty; gender-specific factors
Classification
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Social Psychology
Document language
English
Publication Year
2017
Page/Pages
p. 495-534
Journal
Politics & Policy, 45 (2017) 4
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12209
ISSN
1747-1346
Status
Postprint; peer reviewed
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications