Abstract

This study examines the changes in attractiveness and social perception of mask wearers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before COVID-19, masks were seen as a sign of infection, decreasing the wearer’s attractiveness. However, with the widespread normalization of mask-wearing during the pandemic, the perception mechanisms have become more complex. The attractiveness and social perception of mask wearers now vary based on factors such as the wearer’s baseline attractiveness, race, and attitudes toward masks. Consequently, research findings on perception changes due to mask-wearing have been inconsistent. This inconsistency is due to the lack of standardized experimental methods and the failure to account for individual differences among participants, as well as insufficient theoretical background in the studies. From a psychiatric perspective, it is essential to formulate and test new hypotheses centered around the psychological mechanisms related to the human behavioral immune system when studying attractiveness perception during a pandemic. Notably, attention should be given to how differences in the activation of individuals’ behavioral immune systems influence perceptions of mask wearers. Understanding these dynamics can provide crucial insights into how social perceptions and aversions impact mental health, thereby shedding light on various psychiatric issues that arise during infectious disease outbreaks.