Length of Hair and Beardedness as Determinants of Personality Impressions

The influence of both length of hair and beardedness on impressions of personality was examined. Undergraduate subjects (43 males and 45 females) were presented with one of four drawings, representing a man who had either long or short hair (hair-length) and was either bearded or clean-shaven (beardedness). Subjects were asked to form an impression of the person represented and to indicate the impression formed by placing checkmarks between a number of bipolar scales. Results indicated a markedly negative impression. was formed of the long- as compared to the short-haired male. Consistent with prior research, the bearded male was regarded more positively than the clean-shaven male. Results were discussed in terms of the stereotypic view associated with long hair.