This study examined the effects of different types of surgical masks and the style of wearing the masks on the wearers’ attractiveness evaluations. In Experiment 1, undergraduates (n = 63) evaluated the attractiveness of four peoples’ photographs wearing three types of surgical masks; pleated surgical masks, planar-shaped masks (similar to those distributed by the Japanese government), and three-dimensional masks. The results indicated that the planar-shaped surgical masks were rated less attractive than pleated or three-dimensional masks. Experiment 2 examined the effects of the mask-wearing style. Undergraduates (n = 20) evaluated the attractiveness of three photographs of two people wearing a pleated surgical mask pulled down to expose the nasal dorsum, the mask pulled down further to reveal the nose fully, or the mask appropriately worn with the nose wholly covered. The results indicated that the higher the nose exposure, the lower the attractiveness rating

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This study aimed to elucidate the influence of waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-bust ratio, and body mass index on the evaluation of attractiveness, using figural stimuli derived from 3D computer-generated images created based on objective measurements. In this study, not only the evaluation of attractiveness but also several other assessments of body image (e.g., perceptions of an average body shape) were examined. Japanese university students—168 men (mean age 20.49, SD = 1.33) and 239 women (mean age 20.08, SD = 0.99)—participated in the survey. The analysis results indicated that, across genders, smaller hip sizes were perceived as more attractive. Additionally, larger bust sizes and slender physiques were considered more attractive. Notably, average perceptions varied between males and females. The study highlighted potential cultural variations in attractiveness standards concerning the waist-to-hip ratio. Furthermore, it suggested that standards might be subject to alteration based on race when conducting evaluations about the body.

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Existing research on the psychology of appearance is somewhat insufficient. However, appearance not only significantly influences individuals' quality of life but also serves as a crucial factor in their interactions with society. In this context, research on the psychology of appearance is expected to provide other academic disciplines and industries with useful insights. Therefore, in this symposium, experts from adjacent fields—sports science, medicine, and information engineering—as well as professionals from the apparel industry and general consumers were invited to discuss how research on the psychology of appearance is relevant to their respective domains. The symposium aimed to explore the potential contributions of the psychological study of appearance based on expectations from other fields. Subsequently, discussions were held to determine what actions can be taken from the psychological perspective.

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The present cross-sectional study examined how potential risk factors including appearance schema, social comparison orientation, and self-esteem are associated with body dysmorphic concern, and whether and how dispositional mindfulness as conceptualized based on the Monitor and Acceptance Theory may play protective roles in such relationships. University students completed a questionnaire survey that was either online or paper-based. The results revealed that appearance schema and social comparison orientation were significantly positively correlated with body dysmorphic concern, and that self-esteem was significantly negatively correlated with body dysmorphic concern. Moreover, the Acceptance component of dispositional mindfulness partially mediated the relationship between the risk factors and body dysmorphic concern. In contrast, the Monitor component of dispositional mindfulness did not show significant meditating effects in these relationships. These results suggest that the Acceptance component of dispositional mindfulness, although not its Monitor component, has buffering effects on the associations between risk factors and body dysmorphic concern. Examining the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions that focus particularly on the dimension of Acceptance may be a promising approach for the prevention of body dysmorphic disorder.

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This study examined the differences in the perceived psychological utility of makeup and self-consciousness among female university students based on the frequency of their makeup use. The survey yielded valid responses from 129 female university students. These respondents were divided into two groups: high-frequency (N = 67) and low-frequency (N = 62) groups. For each variable, we compared the scores of the two groups. Resultingly, we found that the scores of the high-frequency group were higher than those of the low-frequency group for perceived utility of makeup, mitigation of interpersonal anxiety ("lack of confidence"), and public self-consciousness. These findings were consistent with those of previous studies. Based on the results, we discussed the use of makeup as a strategy for self-evaluation maintenance and emotion regulation among modern female students.

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This study aimed to examined the relationship between dysmorphia tendency, and self-acceptance and need for approval. Participants included 536 university students. The results showed that “self-acceptance” mediated “rejection avoidance” and had an effect on “dysmorphia tendency.” In other words, people who cannot accept themselves as they are do not want to be disliked by others and are more concerned about their appearance.

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