Why do we respond to others - both to their physical appearances and to their personalities? What are the social influences on face perception? Current research perspectives on physical appearance by distinguished behavioural scientists from around the world were brought together in a special issue of "Current Psychology" and are offered here in a useful compendium. "Physical Appearance: The Psychology of Attraction and Distraction" should benefit students, researchers and practitioners of psychology, criminology, sociology and experts in organizational behaviour who are concerned with the impact of physical appearance on health psychology, crime, organizational safety, and above all, person perception.