The Boyle effect at work

The Boyle effect at work The Boyle effect at workPosted October 13, 2011, by Josie Chun Unless youve been living under a rock, you will have heard of Susan Boyle, the middle-aged Scottish woman, dubbed the hairy angel, who became a global sensation when zu sich astonishing performance on Britains Got Talent was posted on YouTube. The video has exceeded 100 million hits and multitudes from around the world have been moved and delighted by the underdog who became an unlikely star almost overnight, thanks to the wonders of viral video. Even though Boyle didnt go on to win Britains Got Talent (she came second), we can nevertheless revel in her unexpected success. But the question remains why were we, like the judges on the show, all so surprised? Is it because of her frumpy appearance and the fact that she wasnt young, glamorous and packaged in the way we expect successful people to appear? The same phenomenon may also have been at play, at least to some extent, in our initial response to Julie Goodwin, last years winner of MasterChef Australia. Not that theres anything wrong with Goodwins looks only that the matronly, on-the-verge-of-a-nervous-breakdown Goodwin may have seemed like an unlikely winner compared to some of her younger and mora polished competitors. Our initial assumptions about people like Boyle and Goodwin highlight an interesting phenomenon which has been demonstrated in numerous scientific studies, referred to as the beauty premium in a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology. Basically, we judge attractive people more positively deeming them to be more intelligent, more talented and more deserving of reward. Attractive people are treated more favourably and experience more positive outcomes and that includes job outcomes. Taller men receive more promotions, while those judged as plain have been shown to have lower incomes. Also at work is the fact that those who receive deferential treatment from a young age often go on to develop greater confidence and self-esteem, and this in turn generally leads to better employment outcomes. It becomes self-fulfilling prophecy. It hardly seems fair, but this process occurs largely unconsciously and its something we should try to be aware of, both in ourselves and others. Employers need to be especially vigilant against this beauty bias (also known as lookism) when recruiting, as it has been demonstrated that decision-makers privilege attractiveness, regardless of other job-relevant information they have about the people theyre judging. That may mean they pass up a more deserving and suitable candidate for someone who is more physically attractive. In any case, people like Susan Boyle and Julie Goodwin can give all of us hope, as well as reason to reflect. Against the odds, their talent has been recognised and they have risen from obscurity to become unlikely, but deserving, successes. Have you witnessed, suffered from, or been guilty of lookism in t he workplace? Leave a comment below and tell us about it. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searchesfreelance work online australiaworking freelance in australiafuture of work the top jobs of 2025freelance work from home australiahighest paying jobs in australia CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineJosie ChunRelated ArticlesBrowse moreWeekend job berichterstattung Women and youth hit hardestMore than one quarter of young workers either cannot find work or cant work enough hours, according to newly released Bureau of Statistics figures.Job hunting tipsResume tip sTop 8 Ways To Make Your Resume Stand OutIf you want to snag the best chance of getting your resume into the yes pile. Here are 8 easy tips to help your resume shine.Maternity leaveWorkers rightsMaternity Leave in Australia - Know Your Rights Having a new baby is a mixed bag of excitement, nerves, overwhelm and a whole lot more, so when it comes to working and preparing for baby, its important to take your time, know your rights and do your research.