Eastern Kentucky University
Sex Appeal and Misattribution of Arousal
Institution
Eastern Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Rose Perrine
Abstract
Does sex appeal cause music to seem more appealing? Eighty Eastern Kentucky University students (12 males and 68 females) were tested to answer that question. Groups of participants were randomly assigned to review a picture either in the sex appeal condition (picture of pop star using sex appeal, e.g.,, provocative clothing) or the non-sex appeal condition (same pop star not using sex appeal in picture, e.g., less provocative clothing) before listening to a song believed to be written and performed by the pop star in the picture. They then rated their approval of the music and their perception of the artist’s carrier success on a scale of 1 - 6. I hypothesized that students in the sex appeal condition will give higher approval ratings to the music and a more positive perception of carrier success than in the non-sex appeal condition. Results found statistically significant for carrier perception but not for music approval. However, this study found a positive correlation between sex appeal and music approval.
Sex Appeal and Misattribution of Arousal
Does sex appeal cause music to seem more appealing? Eighty Eastern Kentucky University students (12 males and 68 females) were tested to answer that question. Groups of participants were randomly assigned to review a picture either in the sex appeal condition (picture of pop star using sex appeal, e.g.,, provocative clothing) or the non-sex appeal condition (same pop star not using sex appeal in picture, e.g., less provocative clothing) before listening to a song believed to be written and performed by the pop star in the picture. They then rated their approval of the music and their perception of the artist’s carrier success on a scale of 1 - 6. I hypothesized that students in the sex appeal condition will give higher approval ratings to the music and a more positive perception of carrier success than in the non-sex appeal condition. Results found statistically significant for carrier perception but not for music approval. However, this study found a positive correlation between sex appeal and music approval.