DOI: 10.25136/2409-7543.2018.6.27853

Abstract: The subject of the research is ethno lookism interpreted as 'everyday' discriminatory practice that involve ethno-cultural groups with peculiar appearance. New aspects of human existence, in particular, 'digital environment', raise a question about psychological safety of an individual when he or she happens to be under the influence of discriminatory behavior caused by the influence of various factors. Thus, the author of the article emphasizes the need to analyze subjective and personality factors that influence the acceptance of ethno lookism and, consequently, on the definition of individual's psychological safety. The author offers the following hypothesis: acceptance or non-acceptance of ethno lookism may be the result of self-evaluations of one's appearance. The methods used by the author include 1)Test to evaluate the acceptance of discriminatory behavior of the Other when ethno-cultural groups are involved; 2) Appearance Self-Evaluation Test. The mathematical procedures included single-factor analysis of variance, T-criteria of paired samples, and Mann–Whitney U test. The research involved 66 young people from 25 to 35 years old, men constituted 36% and women constituted 64%. The main conclusions of the research: 1. The range of ethno lookism acceptance demonstrates that 25% of research participants have a high level of ethno lookism acceptance. These young people may be a threat for psychological safety of particular groups with a singular appearance. 2. The higher self-esteem and self-evaluation of young people towards their appearance are, the more tolerant they are to ethno lookism and the more frequent they determine the level of psychological safety in a group. 

DOI: 10.25136/2409-8736.2018.4.27965

Abstract: This article provides a theoretical analysis of the studies on the impact of student’s appearance upon his academic performance, and the impact of educator’s appearance upon the students’ academic success. A theoretical conclusion is made on the appearance as a “social capital” of the students and educators. It is noted that the conclusions about the influence of appearance on educational environment were formulated by the western scholars. Therefore, the authors examins the indicated problem with regards to the Russian students, including evaluation of the educator’s appearance, role of the subjective assessment of students’ economic status in determining the functional importance of appearance in educational environment. The authors apply a number of the original questionnaires and surveys. The research involved 130 students; 62% identified themselves with the group “rather poor than wealthy” and 48% – “rather wealthy than poor”. It is concluded that the students agree with the statement that the more attractive appearance can contribute to confident interaction with the educators, their attention to the student, and higher academic grades; students’ subjective assessment of their economic status affects their self-evaluation and evaluation of the educators’ appearance, but does not significantly influences the choice of measure of the functional importance of appearance for educational environment. The authors underline that the student environment, regardless the economic status of the students, has formed a perspective of the “investment power” of appearance as a social capital.

DOI: 10.25136/2409-8701.2017.5.24249

Abstract: The subject of the research is the different types of self-attitudes of girls participating in castings and differing in the evaluation of their beauty by consumers. The object of research is the мisual presentation of the appearance (photos) of the girls involved in castings as well as evaluation of their appearance based on the scale of «beautiful-ugly». The study involved 50 girls aged 18 to 22 years old, participating in the casting, who had voluntarily agreed to provide images of their appearance for grading them «beautiful-ugly», and participated in psychological testing of their self-attitudes. Experts (consumers) who evaluated appearance of casting participants were 125 female students aged 18 to 22 years old. The research methodology includes the principle of linkages between physical appearance and inner world of the person. At the empirical level this principle implements the system study and evaluations of self- attitudes of outer beauty. The authr's choice to study self- attitudes of girls participating in castings was mainly determined by the fact that the appearance of the person carries information about his or her attitude to his or her self and others, and the fact that one's self- attitude is a factor regulating the entire system of relations, and positive attitude towards yourself and others is a requirement for girls participating in various types of castings. Research methods include questionnaire MRS developed by S. Pantileev, and ten-point scale «beautiful-ugly». To identify differences  inself - attitudes of girls (casting contestants) the author has applied the methods of descriptive statistics, t - criterion paired samples, and Т- test for independent samples. The main findings of the research are the conclusions that girls who were evaluated as beautiful demonstrate such qualities as self-guidance, and integral self- attitude «autosympathy». They seek to control their behavior, build on their identity, and have a clear image of their goals. Unlike the other girls participating in castings, these girls have a high level of self-acceptance, positive attitude and respect towards themselves. From the practical point of view, these results show the need to take into account the integrity of external and internal perceptions when conducting castings.