When you saw photos of timelesz member Shuto Inomata being released, did the thought "He's cool" come to mind before "He was arrested for hitting a woman"?
On September 25, footage of him standing in front of the Metropolitan Police Department in a black suit and bowing his head went viral on social media, viewed millions of times.
This was the scene of his arrest and subsequent release. Yet, the first thing that popped into your head wasn't the suspicion, but his face. Some people might feel confused by their own reaction.
This doesn't mean you are heartless.
Have you noticed similar situations at work, school, or in relationships?
Someone with good looks makes the same mistake but gets away with "Don't worry about it."
They're late, but somehow not blamed.
Minor rudeness is laughed off.
Seeing this, you might think, "So, society really is all about looks."
But is that true?
Research in psychology and actual court cases suggests the answer is "half correct." Looks do matter in certain contexts. But there are also clear limits where they stop working.
Let me clarify: This article is not about judging Mr. Inomata or mocking appearances.
First, What Happened
Here are only the facts reported by the media.
On September 19, Mr. Inomata was arrested on suspicion of assault. He allegedly hit a female acquaintance in her 20s multiple times in the face inside a parked car at a convenience store parking lot in Koto Ward, Tokyo, on the night of September 18, causing injury.
At the time of arrest, he denied the charges, stating, "We got into an argument, and my hand may have accidentally hit her. I panicked."
He was released on September 25, bowing his head and saying, "I am deeply sorry for this incident." The investigation continues while he is out on bail, and it has not yet been decided whether he will be indicted. His agency announced a temporary suspension of his activities.
There is an injured victim. And nothing is finalized yet. Keeping these two facts in mind, let's get to the main point.
① The Brain Automatically Links "Good Looks" with "Good Character"
When you see a stranger's face, you might think, "They seem kind" or "They seem competent."
Even though you haven't spoken a word.
In psychology, this is called the "Halo Effect." It's a cognitive bias where one prominent trait influences how we perceive other traits. American psychologist Edward Thorndike named it over 100 years ago.
Regarding appearance, there is more direct research. A famous 1972 experiment showed that people rated attractive individuals as having better personalities (e.g., "kind," "honest") and predicted they would lead happier lives. Researchers called this the "what is beautiful is good" stereotype.
So, attractive people aren't forgiven because others are lenient. It's because our brains automatically assume "they must be a good person" the moment we see them.
Practical Tip:
- If you think someone "seems nice," try to name one specific reason why.
- If you can't, recognize that it's just an impression based on looks.
② Leniency Based on Looks Exists in Real Courts—But Only for Minor Offenses
You might think, "Surely courts don't care about looks."
However, a 1980 study of real criminal trials in Pennsylvania, USA, found that defendants who were considered physically attractive received lighter sentences. There was no correlation between looks and guilty/not-guilty verdicts; the effect was on sentence length.
But here is the crucial part.
A 1991 study of over 2,000 defendants in Texas found that looks influenced fines and bail amounts only for minor crimes. For serious crimes, the effect of appearance disappeared.
Looks only help within the range of "oh well, it's not a big deal."
As the severity of the crime increases—especially when physical harm is involved—people tend to judge based on character rather than appearance.
Practical Tip:
- If you notice yourself thinking "I can forgive this," re-read the event description without looking at photos or videos.
- Ask yourself: "Would I forgive this if the person looked different?"
③ If People Feel You 'Used' Your Looks, Judgment Becomes Harsher
Being attractive doesn't always pay off.
In a 1975 experiment, participants judged the sentence for the same woman committing different crimes, varying only her photo.
For burglary, the attractive photo resulted in a lighter sentence.
However, for fraud (where looks are used to deceive), the attractive photo resulted in a heavier sentence.
People are lenient toward good looks themselves. But the moment they realize those looks were weaponized to manipulate others, they feel betrayed and become stricter.
This applies to daily life too. When someone trusted due to their image uses that trust to manipulate others, the backlash is severe.
Practical Tip:
- Don't use your appearance as a negotiation tool, especially when you feel it's giving you an advantage.
- Confirm important agreements verbally, even with likable people.
④ The Power of Faces Fades as You Get to Know Someone
For those who feel they "can't compete on looks," this is the most important point.
A 2015 study of 167 couples found:
Couples who started dating immediately after meeting had matched levels of physical attractiveness. However, for couples who knew each other for a long time or were friends first, this matching tendency disappeared.
Researchers explain: When you first meet someone, everyone agrees on who is attractive (faces are strong). But as time passes, you learn their communication style, values, and comfort level, so perceptions of attractiveness diverge among individuals.
Faces are strongest only in the first few minutes.
Over time, evaluation shifts to substance.
Practical Tip:
- Even if you lose the first impression battle, don't end the game in round one.
- Increase the number of meetings in settings like work, hobbies, or classes to let people know you gradually.
Summary
- The brain links "good looks" with "good character." Check if you can name a reason for your positive impression.
- Looks only help with minor issues. For serious matters, people judge by character.
- If people feel you used your looks, judgment becomes harsher.
- The power of faces fades as you get to know someone. Focus on building connections over time.
