For example, “He is nice!”
affects the perception of other particular characteristics (“He is also smart!").
Perceptions of a single trait can carry over to other aspects, too.
Verywell / Joshua Seong
Physical appearance is typically a major part of the halo effect.
People considered attractive tend to rate higher for other positive traits, too.
However, the halo effect can encompass other traits as well.
For example, people tend to see others who are sociable or kind as likable and intelligent, too.
The halo effect allows perceptions of one quality to spill over into biased judgments of other qualities.
These characteristics included such things as leadership, physical appearance, intelligence, loyalty, and dependability.
Thorndike’s goal was to determine how ratings of one quality bled over to assessments of other characteristics.
“The correlations were too high and too even,” Thorndike wrote.
So why do our overall impressions of a person create this halo that influences our evaluations of specific traits?
Researchers have found that attractiveness is one factor.
However, this attractiveness stereotype can be a double-edged sword.
Impact of the Halo Effect
The halo effect plays out in many arenas.
In Education
Teachers may interact with students differently based on perceptions of attractiveness.
For example, in one study, teachers had better expectations of kids that they rated as more attractive.
Another study looked at the academic records of more than 4,500 students.
Researchers then compared students' grades between classes taken in a traditional face-to-face classroom setting and those taken online.
The halo effect can influence how teachers treat students, but it can also impact how students perceive teachers.
The halo effect can also have an impact on income.
Job applicants are also likely to feel the impact of the halo effect.
In Marketing
Marketers take advantage of the halo effect to sell products and services.
That single trait colors all of the others for someone experiencing the reverse halo effect.
For example, a person might assume that someone they view as unattractive is also unkind.
Despite awareness of the halo effect, avoiding its influence on ourperceptionsand decisions is impossible.
It’s just one of many biases that facilitate snap decisionsand errors in judgment.
2016;11(2):e0148284.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0148284
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