The article "Maxims or Myths of Beauty? A Meta-Analytic and Theoretical Review" by Judith H. Langlois and colleagues explores the contradictory claims about the importance of attractiveness in life. While common maxims suggest that attractiveness is not significant, evolutionary and socialization theories propose that attractiveness influences development and interactions. The authors conducted 11 meta-analyses to evaluate these claims, finding that: 1. **Raters Agree on Attractiveness**: Both within and across cultures, raters agree about who is and is not attractive. 2. **Attractive Individuals Are Judged More Positively**: Attractive children and adults are judged more positively than unattractive ones, even by those who know them. 3. **Attractive Individuals Are Treated More Positively**: Attractive individuals are treated more positively than unattractive ones, even by those who know them. 4. **Attractive Individuals Exhibit More Positive Behaviors and Traits**: Attractive individuals show more positive behaviors and traits than unattractive ones. These findings are used to evaluate social and fitness-related evolutionary theories and the validity of maxims about beauty. The article also discusses the theoretical mechanisms underlying these effects, including socialization/social expectancy theories and fitness-related evolutionary theories. The authors aim to extend knowledge beyond stranger-attribution paradigms, examine the contradiction between common maxims and empirical findings, and evaluate the current status of socialization/social expectancy theory and fitness-related evolutionary theory.The article "Maxims or Myths of Beauty? A Meta-Analytic and Theoretical Review" by Judith H. Langlois and colleagues explores the contradictory claims about the importance of attractiveness in life. While common maxims suggest that attractiveness is not significant, evolutionary and socialization theories propose that attractiveness influences development and interactions. The authors conducted 11 meta-analyses to evaluate these claims, finding that: 1. **Raters Agree on Attractiveness**: Both within and across cultures, raters agree about who is and is not attractive. 2. **Attractive Individuals Are Judged More Positively**: Attractive children and adults are judged more positively than unattractive ones, even by those who know them. 3. **Attractive Individuals Are Treated More Positively**: Attractive individuals are treated more positively than unattractive ones, even by those who know them. 4. **Attractive Individuals Exhibit More Positive Behaviors and Traits**: Attractive individuals show more positive behaviors and traits than unattractive ones. These findings are used to evaluate social and fitness-related evolutionary theories and the validity of maxims about beauty. The article also discusses the theoretical mechanisms underlying these effects, including socialization/social expectancy theories and fitness-related evolutionary theories. The authors aim to extend knowledge beyond stranger-attribution paradigms, examine the contradiction between common maxims and empirical findings, and evaluate the current status of socialization/social expectancy theory and fitness-related evolutionary theory.