The Psychology of Appearance

This event is part of a series of Psychology seminars that regularly occurs during the Autumn and Spring terms.

Appearance is one of the first things we notice about others, and its psychological consequences are far-reaching. This talk explores how physical appearance influences attitudes, behaviours, and overall well-being.

Drawing on research in appearance and health psychology, Kat Schneider will discuss how appearance-related judgements affect domains such as employment, relationships, and healthcare, across multiple societies and cultures. She will also highlight recent work examining how people internalise cultural beauty ideals and how these processes contribute to body dissatisfaction and stigma.

Throughout, Kat will present case studies from my own research on body image and weight stigma, as well as other work conducted at the Centre for Appearance Research in collaboration with academic, industry, and community partners. The talk concludes by considering what we can do to challenge appearance-based bias and promote greater body diversity and acceptance.