Final answer:
Physical attractiveness can influence reinforcer effectiveness, acting as a social reinforcer, and its effects vary. Attractiveness does not guarantee health benefits but is correlated with subjective well-being and job-related outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
True or False: Attractiveness is a variable of reinforcer effectiveness. This statement cannot be deemed absolutely true or false without context because the effectiveness of a reinforcer can be influenced by several factors, including attractiveness. However, research does indicate that physical attractiveness can affect various outcomes and can act as a type of social reinforcement.
Regarding reinforcer effectiveness, what might be considered attractive can vary from person to person, and thus its effectiveness as a reinforcer also varies. In areas such as job-related outcomes, attractive individuals might receive more positive reinforcement, as found in the meta-analysis by Hosoda, Stone-Romero, and Coats. Likewise, Diener, Wolsic, and Fujita suggested that physical attractiveness correlates with subjective well-being, which could indicate that attractiveness can function as a reinforcer under certain conditions.
In psychological studies, a positive correlation does not imply health benefits; it simply indicates a relationship where increases in one variable tend to be associated with increases in another. Therefore, the attractiveness of a reinforcer is a factor worth considering, but its overall effectiveness will depend on several other variables, including individual preferences and expectations.