What phenomenon suggests that people who are physically attractive are assumed to have other positive qualities?

The attractiveness halo effect refers to the cognitive bias where individuals perceive physically attractive people as possessing more positive traits, such as intelligence, kindness, and social competence, beyond just their physical appearance. Research in social psychology has demonstrated that this bias can lead to assumptions about a person's overall character based solely on their looks, often benefiting them in social situations, job opportunities, and various aspects of life.

This effect tends to arise from societal standards that equate beauty with positive attributes. As a result, beautiful individuals may receive more favorable treatment and have their skills and talents underestimated or overestimated based solely on their attractiveness, illustrating the powerful influence of appearance on perception and social judgments.

In contrast, social proof refers to the tendency to look to others to determine how to act, confirmation bias involves favoring information that confirms existing beliefs, and a self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when a belief causes its own fulfillment. These concepts, while relevant in psychology, do not specifically address the assumptions associated with physical attractiveness and its associated qualities.