Ratings of the attractiveness and babyishness of the voices of 124 stimulus persons were obtained. These were compared to impressions provided by judges on the basis of vocal information only; self-descriptions provided by the stimulus persons; and descriptions of the stimulus persons provided by close friends. The vocal attractiveness stereotype was generally replicated, and the effects of vocal attractiveness and babyishness on impressions were found to be independent of one another. Sex differences in the impact of vocal attractiveness on perceptions were also revealed. Analyses did not reveal an impact of vocal attractiveness on self or friend ratings.
I am grateful to Dyan Carbine for her assistance in collecting the data reported here; and to two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on this manuscript.