Study: Women who get Botox viewed as cold and vain compared to women seen to age naturally: study

From NYDailyNews.com:

Botox may smooth your wrinkles but it can cause you to look worse in the eyes of others.

New research suggests that women who pay for the freezing injectible are viewed by others as vain and cold, compared to women who rely on skin creams to smooth wrinkles.

The study, conducted by the University of Toronto, examined social perceptions of women who rely on a variety of anti-aging techniques, including avoiding the sun, using skin creams, Botox, and facelifts.

The results showed that the less a woman tried to interfere with aging naturally, the more positively her personality was viewed by the participants in the study -- at least when the participants were told the subject was using Botox or other methods, implying a woman might not want to advertise her anti-aging regimen and aim for the most natural look possible.

It's interesting to note that the participants were divided into two different age groups, those with an average age of 18 and those with an average of 70, with each reading descriptions of women and their anti-aging techniques and then judging the women's characters based on the descriptions.

The older participants generally had more positive feelings toward women who used any type of anti-aging techniques than the younger ones did, but all of the participants felt more warmth toward the women who didn't use Botox, believing they were less vain.

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The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences - Brief Report:
Alison L. Chasteen, Nadia Y. Bashir, Christina Gallucci, and Anja Visekruna
Age and Antiaging Technique Influence Reactions to Age Concealment
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci (2011) first published online July 11, 2011 doi:10.1093/geronb/gbr063 [fee]

Abstract

Objectives. Despite the rapid expansion of the antiaging cosmetic industry in recent years, little is known about the current social judgment consequences of concealing one’s age. In two studies, we examined perceivers’ evaluations and mental representations of individuals who engage in age concealment.

Methods. In Study 1, we assessed young and older adults’ reactions toward a middle-aged or older adult target who engaged in mild or major forms of age concealment. In Study 2, we examined the social consequences of age concealment in greater detail by including younger middle-aged targets and expanding the range of concealment procedures used.

Results. Targets received less favorable evaluations (a) to the extent that they engaged in invasive procedures, (b) when they were viewed by young adults rather than by older adults, and to some degree, (c) if they were middle-aged adults rather than older adults. Participants held different expectations concerning aging and age concealment depending on the age of the target and the antiaging technique used.

Discussion. These findings suggest that reactions to age concealment vary according to the concealment technique used, the age of the perceiver, and to some extent, the age of the target.