User:NicoletteLynne/sandbox

Intro needs updating, - it is as follows - my plans for changes : (Article as is is not bolded, bold are edits I will be making)

Intro
A halo effect  is an outcome in one area due to factors derived from another ."The halo effect is a cognitive bias in which the brain allows specific positive traits to positively influence the overall evaluation of a person.

The Halo Effect can also be explained as the behavior (usually unconscious) of using evaluations based on things unrelated, to make judgments about something or someone. '''The Halo Effect specifically refers to when this behavior has a positive correlation, such as viewing someone who is attractive is more likely to be seen as successful and more popular. When this judgement has a negative connotation, such as someone unattractive being charged more firmly for a crime than someone attractive, it is referred to as the Horn Effect.'''

'''Another example of this is a study done where two people of the same age, sex, attire, and educational background, were put standing next to a mailbox at separate times. The person who looked older and was taller was seen as more likely to have had a better career and higher salary by those tested. There is a tendency to attribute positive traits to people that are attractive .'''

History
'''Halo Effect was named by psychologist Edward Thorndike in reference to a person being perceived as having a halo. Subsequent researchers have studied it in relation to attractiveness and its bearing on the judicial and educational systems. Thorndike originally coined the term referring only to people; however, its use has been greatly expanded especially in the area of brand marketing.The first use of this term in psychology was a 1920 paper by Edward Thorndike. ''The Business/marketing  use of this term was popularized by a 1966 textbook and software package. -' ''this last sentence originally had a source, but the source goes nowhere. If I cannot find a link then I will take this out.''

Background
'''The term "halo" is used in analogy with the religious concept: a glowing circle crowning the heads of saints in countless medieval and Renaissance paintings, bathing the saint's face in heavenly light. The observer may be subject to overestimating the worth of the observed by the presence of a quality that adds light on the whole like a halo. In other words, observers tend to bend their judgement according to one patent characteristic of the person (the "halo"), generalizing towards a judgement of that person's character (e.g., in the literal hagiologic case, "entirely good and worthy").'''

'''The effect works in both positive and negative directions (and is hence sometimes called the horns and halo effect). If the observer likes one aspect of something, they will have a positive predisposition toward everything about it. If the observer dislikes one aspect of something, they will have a negative predisposition toward everything about it. This also works for opinions on people, if someone who is thought highly of commits a crime, it is more likely that people will defend him (Halo Effect), whereas when someone who is not thought highly of commits a crime people are more likely going to not defend him and more than likely act as though it isn't surprising (Horn Effect). '''

Cognitive Bias Section
This section is not listed in the Index, may pull some things and relocate them to the intro/history.

''' Halo effect as a cognitive bias refers to an observer's overall impression of a person, company, brand, or product influencing the observer's feelings and thoughts about that entity's character or properties.It was named by psychologist in reference to a person being perceived as having a halo. Subsequent researchers have studied it in relation to attractiveness and its bearing on the judicial and educational systems. The halo effect is a specific type of confirmation bias, wherein positive feelings in one area cause ambiguous or neutral traits to be viewed positively. Thorndike originally coined the term referring only to people; however, its use has been greatly expanded especially in the area of brand marketing . - MOVE TO INTRO'''

Devil Effect
'''This section is being removed - it is a mess of information that isn't fully accurate as well as not using correct terms. I will pull information that is relevant and add it into the intro, or create an actual category called Horn Effect --- The section below has been reformatted / restructured.'''

Horn Effect
The devil effect, also known as the Horn Effect is when people allow an undesirable trait to influence their evaluation of other traits. The Guardian wrote of the devil effect in relation to Hugo Chavez: "Some leaders can become so demonised that it's impossible to assess their achievements and failures in a balanced way." When someone is seen in a negative light, anything they do that is negative is exemplified, while the positive things they do are not seen, or are doubted.

The relation of a crime to attractiveness is also subject to the halo effect. A study presented two hypothetical crimes: a burglary and a swindle. The burglary involved a woman illegally obtaining a key and stealing $2,200; the swindle involved a woman manipulating a man to invest $2,200 in a nonexistent corporation. The results showed that when the offense was not related to attractiveness (as in the burglary) the unattractive defendant was punished more severely than the attractive one. However, when the offense was related to attractiveness (the swindle), the attractive defendant was punished more severely than the unattractive one. The study imputes that the usual leniency given to the attractive woman (as a result of the halo effect) was negated or reversed when the nature of the crime involved her looks. move to Judicial

Judicial:
Study results showing the influence of the halo effect in the judicial context exist:
 * Efran (1974) found subjects were more lenient when sentencing attractive individuals than unattractive ones, even though exactly the same crime was committed. The researchers attributed the result to a societal perception that people with a high level of attractiveness are seen as more likely to have successful futures due to corresponding socially desirable traits.

'''The relation of a crime to attractiveness is also proven to be subject to the halo effect. A study presented two hypothetical crimes: a burglary and a swindle. The burglary involved a woman illegally obtaining a key and stealing $2,200; the swindle involved a woman manipulating a man to invest $2,200 in a nonexistent corporation. The results showed that when the offense was not related to attractiveness (as in the burglary) the unattractive defendant was punished more severely than the attractive one. However, when the offense was related to attractiveness (the swindle), the attractive defendant was punished more severely than the unattractive one. The study imputes that the usual leniency given to the attractive woman (as a result of the halo effect) was negated or reversed when the nature of the crime involved her looks.'''
 * Monahan (1941) studied social workers who were accustomed to interacting with a diverse range of people and found that the majority experienced difficulty when asked to consider that a beautiful person was guilty of a crime.

Branding
The term halo effect is used in marketing to explain customer bias toward certain products because of favorable experience with other products made by the same company.

The halo effect is also present in the field of brand marketing. One common halo effect is when the perceived positive features of a particular item extend to a broader brand. A notable example is the manner in which the popularity of Apple’s iPod generated enthusiasm for the corporation's other products. Another example is Subway's brand image as a "healthy" variety of fast food. The perception of a restaurant as "healthy" causes consumers to underestimate the caloric content of its dishes. Marketers take advantage of the halo effect to sell products and services. When a celebrity spokesperson endorses a particular item, targeted people's positive evaluation of that individual can influence their perception of the product itself. Job applicants are also likely to feel the impact of the halo effect. If a prospective employer views the applicant as attractive or likeable, they are more likely to also rate the individual as intelligent, competent, and qualified.

The term health halo has been used regarding labeling and marketing of food items. A 2007 study showed that people perceived a Subway meal described as "healthy" as having up to 35 percent fewer calories than a McDonald’s meal with identical caloric content.

The term "halo effect" has also been applied to human rights organizations that have used their status to move away from their stated goals. Political scientist Gerald Steinberg has claimed that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) take advantage of the "halo effect" and are "given the status of impartial moral watchdogs" by governments and the news media.

The Ronald McDonald House, a widely known NGO, openly celebrates the positive outcomes it receives from the halo effect. The web page for the Ronald McDonald House in Durham, North Carolina, states that 95% of survey participants were aware of Ronald McDonald House Charities. This awareness is attributed to the halo effect, as employees, customers, and stakeholders are more likely to be involved in a charity that they recognize and trust, with a name and logo that are familiar.

A brand's halo effect can protect its reputation in the event of a crisis. An event that is detrimental to a brand that is viewed favorably would not be as threatening or damaging to a brand that consumers view unfavorably.