HALO EFFECT

Dion, Berscheid and Walster (1972)

Definition of the Halo

Effect
The halo effect refers to the cognitive
bias that the first feature we recognize in
another person influences how we perceive
that person later. Because visual cues are
mostly the first we recognize, they are
important for such a halo effect. On basis of
these visual cues, not only the visual
attractiveness is obviously apparent, but
inferences are also drawn with respect to
the persons traits.

Methodology and Findings

Sixty respondents were tasked to
rate photos based on attractiveness
along with 27 different personality
traits. Findings prove the existence of
the halo effect.

OUR SOCIAL
EXPERIMENT

PROBLEM
How prevalent is the halo
effect in the Philippine
context?

OBJECTIVES:
1.To verify if the Halo Effect holds true
even in the Philippine context
2.To establish the difference in the
tendency of the manifestation of the
halo effect between male and female
subjects

METHODOLOGY

Locale of the Study

Freedom Park, UPLB
September 29, 2012; 2:00-5:00 pm

Respondents:
30 individuals(15 males and 15 females)
Age group ranges from 14-40
**Quota sampling was used

Survey Questions:

Instructions: Rate the individuals

according to the following criteria with
5 being the highest and 1 being the
lowest.
1. Who do you think is most attractive?
2. Who you think will be the most successful in life?
3. Who do you think will have the happiest
marriage life?
4. Who do you think is most sexually active?
5. If the five of them were to run for the same
government position, who would you vote for?

SET A

SET B

RESULTS

(males on Set A)

25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%

Central Trait
Peripheral Trait

5.00%
0.00%

X Y Z

ranked 1st in the poll for happiest

marriage life
ranked 1st in poll for the most
successful career

ranked 1st in the poll for

government position

RESULTS (females on Set

A)
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
Central Trait
Peripheral Trait

10.00%
5.00%
0.00%

X Y Z

ranked 1st in the poll for

Government Position
ranked 1st in poll for the most
successful career

ranked 1st in the poll for perceived

sexual activity

RESULTS (males on Set B)

25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%

Central Trait
Peripheral Trait

5.00%
0.00%

X Y Z

ranked 1st in the poll for

Government Position
ranked 1st in poll for the most
successful career
ranked 1st in poll for the happiest
marriage life

ranked 1st in the poll for perceived

sexual activity

RESULTS (females on Set

B)
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%

Central Trait
Peripheral Trait

5.00%
0.00%

X Y Z

ranked 1st in the poll for success in

career
ranked 1st in the poll for
government position

ranked 1st in the poll for Marriage

Life

Who is more prone to the Halo

Effect?
3.5
3
2.5
2

Same sex
Opposite Sex

1.5
1
0.5

Opposite Sex

0
Males

Same sex
Females