Youth who perceive themselves as more attractive engage in more—not less—offending; depression, which is treated as a form of negative affect, does not appear to mediate this relationship

Self-Perceptions of Attractiveness and Offending During Adolescence. Thomas J. Mowen et al. Crime & Delinquency, January 12, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011128720987196

Abstract: Despite a well-established body of research demonstrating that others’ evaluations of a person’s physical attractiveness carry significant meaning, researchers have largely ignored how self-perceptions of physical attractiveness relate to offending behaviors. Applying general strain theory and using eight waves of panel data from the Adolescent Academic Context Study, we explore how self-perceptions of attractiveness relate to offending as youth progress through school. Results demonstrate that youth who perceive themselves as more attractive engage in more—not less—offending. Depression, which is treated as a form of negative affect, does not appear to mediate this relationship. We conclude by raising attention to the possibility that being “good-looking” may actually be a key risk factor for crime.

Keywords: general strain theory, attractiveness, crime, deviance