Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, cilt.11, sa.1, ss.202102, 2021 (ESCI)
While making inferences about the physical appearance of other persons, the individual makes
use of various stereotypes, and according to these stereotypes, categorizes the new individual
based on his/her physical appearance. This affects the interpersonal communication process
established, and the individual starts and maintains the communication process according to
the stereotypes about other persons categorised in the mind. In this regard, it can be suggested
that gender stereotypes, which are based on the physical appearance of the individual, are
determinant on the content and quality of interpersonal communication. In this context,
determining these stereotype-based expectations is of great importance also for reducing
communication barriers encountered in interpersonal communication. Based on this focus, the
research aims to reveal the physical appearance features of the other person, which the
individual pays attention to most, at the start of and during the interpersonal communication
process, and whether this attitude differs according to the gender of the evaluating or evaluated
individual. Conducted in accordance with this aim, the study is a descriptive method-based field
research implemented by means of open-ended question form. The study also aims to present
an intercultural perspective; within this scope, findings obtained from the statements of Turkish
and Portugese respondents are provided in a comparative manner. The primary result of the
study is the fact that both physical appearance features, which the individual first evaluates in
the moment of first meeting and during the interpersonal communication process, differ
according to the gender and cultural background of the evaluating individual.