Is it true that good-looking people receive more respect?

Sure, look at AstoChuck‘s picture, and then look at his lurve.

I am usually more outgoing towards an outgoing person rather than a pretty person but I do think sales people help pretty people faster. Pretty people get away with more as well.

I, ah…I wouldn’t know

<sobs while eating cookie>

Respect and attention are not the same thing.

Mark McKinney from Kids in the Hall did a film about the repercussions of pretty. Here’s a clip. That might answer some of your question.

I know for me, I just think “Ooo! Pretty!” And then that’s that. I don’t feel any more respect towards someone physically attractive. But that’s because I think I’ve lived enough to learn where “pretty” goes on the hierarchy of human worth.

Pretty people are smarter, and they earn more money, and have more positions of power, so I guess that’s like respect. They have higher status. Pretty annoying, isn’t it?

I have provided references to research about this on another question asked two or three months ago.

This is called the “halo effect”. An initial favorable impression (such as perceiving that someone is physically attractive) biases us to attribute unrelated favorable qualities to them. Study after study has born this out.

In the criminal justice system, more attractive criminals are consistently treated with more leniency (unless it was judged that their attractiveness was used to facilitate the crime). source

People are more willing to anonymously help an attractive person. source

People are more susceptible to persuasion by an attractive person. (“Communicator physical attractiveness and persuasion” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1979 Aug Vol 37(8) 1387–1397)

Attractive children are less likely to be considered rotten by adults when they misbehave, and teachers are more likely to attribute intelligence to attractive kids. source

Great sources, Harp! Very interesting, indeed.

Having grown up as a somewhat nice-looking person, I’d say that people do give more attention, but not respect. Respect is still an earned trait. But when a nice looking person opens their mouth and says something intelligent, they gain respect [like a 2 dollar hooker]. So it might be easier, but they don’t get it because of their looks off the bat.

I think that people like to be around people who are comfortable with themselves and have a positive outlook Also I would like to add that a smile, sincerity and manners can go a long way.

As a ‘pretty’ teenager, I received a lot of attention, but for the most part it was not respectful attention. Respect came later, if at all, when someone got to know the ‘me’ behind the pretty face.

I’m not sure about respect, but they do seem to get more ‘perks’ than the average or unattractive people do.

it’s on the inside that counts…kind-of…

i’m a teacher & a mama & i still see this in action…kids, students, parents, administration all treat the better looking teachers differently & yes, usually more respectfully…almost as if they’re not worthy of troubling anyone so hot with their petty problems & whining complaints…everyone seems much more wiling to believe the attractive teachers/parents.
it’s v. apparent at bars…it’s the easy on the eyes who gets served first. as a mama, i try to balance having my kids understand the kudos of looking good with truly glowing with goodness from inside & with not focusing on appearance above everything else. it’s tricky…