The study is a simple two cell between-subjects design. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two conditions. Participants in the appearance change condition view targets who have incurred an appearance change since their transgression. Those in the control condition view targets who are very similar in appearance to when they committed their transgression. Then, participants report their perceptions of the targets, which are averaged across targets and compared between groups. We predict that the transgressors who appear to have incurred an appearance change since the time of their transgression will be perceived as more remorseful than transgressors who have not incurred an appearance change. Procedure Participants are presented with a randomized series of 4 targets (2 female and 2 male). For each participant, targets are randomly paired with one of four transgressions. Drug use For some time a few years ago, [target] was addicted to opiates. [Target]’s drug use included OxyContin, morphine, vicodin, or any other narcotics s/he could find. Three years ago, [target] was walking home when s/he was caught in possession of narcotics. Since s/he happened to be within 5 blocks of a high school when he was caught, s/he was required to serve 2 years in prison. DUI 2 years ago, [target] was snowmobiling with a group of friends while drinking alcohol. S/He was caught and convicted of a DUI. Since it was his/her 3rd DUI, s/he was required to serve 1 year in prison. Burglar 3 years ago, [target] was a part of a group of adolescents who broke into a series of empty homes to steal valuables, which they would then sell for cash. One day, an item they were trying to sell was identified as stolen, so [target] was caught and required to serve 2 years in prison. Assault In high school, [target] was associated with a group of adolescents who engaged in gang-related activities. One day, they were involved in a violent brawl that resulted in multiple arrests. [Target] was charged with aggravated assault and was required to serve a 15-month sentence. For each target, participants 1) see a past image of them and read about their transgression, 2) are told that it has been a few years since their transgression, then 3) see a current image and report their perception of them on 6-item scales [items presented in random order on numbered 0-5 scale with 0=Not at all [trait] and 5=Extremely [trait]; unless otherwise indicated]. How trustworthy does [target] seem? {trustworthy] How dishonest does [target] seem? (R) [dishonest] How remorseful does [target] seem? [remorseful] How much does it seem like [target] has changed for the better? [0=Not at all; 5=Very much so] How much does [target] seem like s/he deserves a second chance? [0=Not at all; 5=Very much so] How likely is [target] to reoffend? [0=Not at all likely; 5=Extremely likely] At the end, of two out of the four sets of faces, participants will receive the following attention check Please select ‘extremely’ for this question. [0=Not at all; 5=Extremely] Any participant who fails this attention check will be removed from the study. We selected which two would be used by inputting the following four options into a randomizer (male1 male2 female1 female2) and randomized the lsit order, taking only the first two in the list. These were the second female and second male vignettes. As described above, participants in the appearance change condition will view a current image of the transgressor that depicts an appearance change from the past image, while those in the control condition view an image that depicts no appearance change. Finally, each participant responds to a trait scale on their lay-theory of morality [all presented in random order on unnumbered 6-point scale from Mostly disagree=1; Disagree=2; Mostly disagree=3; Mostly agree=4; Agree=5; Strongly agree=6]. A person’s moral character is something very basic about them and it can’t be changed much. Whether a person is responsible or sincere or not is deeply ingrained in their personality. It cannot be changed much. There is not much that can be done to change a person’s moral traits (e.g. conscientiousness, uprightness, and honesty). Materials Target images of 2 males and 2 females are shown to the participant. Each image was created using images from the Chicago Face Database and Photoshop CC. Mean attractiveness and threat ratings were calculated for each race and sex category in the face database. Then, faces were selected if they were within half of a standard deviation of both means for their respective sex and race category. Appearance changed images were created using WebMorph.org to morph the target face with another similar face, and Photoshop CC to change hair and shirt colors. Control images were only edited slightly in Photoshop CC to depict very slight changes in hair and shirt color. Each target randomly depicts a change in one of two directions (e.g. weight loss or weight gain, hair growth or hair cut) to ensure that effects are not due to a specific type of appearance change. Target images are randomly paired with one of four transgressions: 1) drug addiction, 2) DUI, 3) burglary 4) violent assault. Transgressions are identical between target sexes. Participants respond to a 6-item scale to report their perceptions of each target on the following dimensions: 1) remorse, 2) trustworthiness, 3) character growth, and 4) deserving of a second chance. Specifically, participants responded to a randomized series of a variant of the question “How ____ does [target] seem?” on a 7-point scale for each of the following: 1) remorseful, 2) trustworthy, 3) dishonest (reverse scored & collapsed with ‘trustworthy’), 4) changed for the better, 5) deserving of a second chance, 6) likely to reoffend (reverse scored & collapsed with ‘second chance’). In addition, attention check items are included in the scales for two of the targets (“Please select ‘extremely’ for this question” and “Please select ‘not at all’ for this question”). Participants also respond to the implicit theory of morality scale to measure trait-level incremental/entity beliefs of morality (Chiu, Dweck, Tong & Fu, 1997). The scale consists of three statements about the inflexibility of moral character. Participants report how much they agree with each statement on a 6-point scale. Responses are averaged to produce a ‘moral theory’ variable. Finally, at the end of the survey, participants report how attractive each target is. [if have filling out the survey on a phone] You may need to turn your smartphone sideways in order to see the faces. Please rate the attractiveness of each individual. [1-7 numbered scale with labels at Very unattractive (1); Moderately attractive (4); Very attractive (7)]