The results were clear: there was a consistent link between prosocial actions and higher ratings of physical attractiveness. People who were described as engaging in kind or helpful behaviors were rated as more beautiful than those who were not. These findings held true for both male and female observers evaluating targets of either gender, suggesting a broad appeal of prosociality in enhancing physical attractiveness.
"An interesting aspect of our findings is that the effect of prosociality on attractiveness was consistent across genders," Kononov says. "Kindness and generosity made both men and women appear more attractive, regardless of who was being evaluated or who was doing the evaluating. This gender-universal appeal highlights just how broadly kindness can shape perceptions of beauty."
