Adolescents’ preferences for sexual dimorphism are influenced by relative exposure to male and female faces

Saxton, Tamsin K.; Little, Anthony C.; DeBruine, Lisa M.; Jones, Benedict C.; Roberts, S. Craig

doi:10.1016/j.paid.2009.07.005

Cited by 24 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…If these “constraints” may be universal, the results can be highly contextual, since the cues of assortative mating are based on learning [50]. Several studies suggest that the early exposure to prevalent bodily traits of peers or kin can potently shape sexual preferences, that will be shown later in adult life, towards those very traits (e.g., the prevalent gender of kin or schoolmates can modulate preference for masculinity or femininity [110], and a different skin color of childhood nurses can enhance later the sexual attraction to other, but specific, ethnicities [111], p. 278). Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre (1847) best expressed this: “Most true is it that beauty is in the eye of the gazer.” Several of the prominently preferred facial traits may show little variation among adult humans, cultures, and ethnicities [112], since these traits are important for one’s reproductive success or the survival success of the offspring, regardless of specific environmental and social contexts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Beauty in the Face of the Beholder?

2013

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Opposing forces influence assortative mating so that one seeks a similar mate while at the same time avoiding inbreeding with close relatives. Thus, mate choice may be a balancing of phenotypic similarity and dissimilarity between partners. In the present study, we assessed the role of resemblance to Self’s facial traits in judgments of physical attractiveness. Participants chose the most attractive face image of their romantic partner among several variants, where the faces were morphed so as to include only 22% of another face. Participants distinctly preferred a “Self-based morph” (i.e., their partner’s face with a small amount of Self’s face blended into it) to other morphed images. The Self-based morph was also preferred to the morph of their partner’s face blended with the partner’s same-sex “prototype”, although the latter face was (“objectively”) judged more attractive by other individuals. When ranking morphs differing in level of amalgamation (i.e., 11% vs. 22% vs. 33%) of another face, the 22% was chosen consistently as the preferred morph and, in particular, when Self was blended in the partner’s face. A forced-choice signal-detection paradigm showed that the effect of self-resemblance operated at an unconscious level, since the same participants were unable to detect the presence of their own faces in the above morphs. We concluded that individuals, if given the opportunity, seek to promote “positive assortment” for Self’s phenotype, especially when the level of similarity approaches an optimal point that is similar to Self without causing a conscious acknowledgment of the similarity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Beauty in the Face of the Beholder?

2013

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“…Also, other works suggest that ‘natural’ visual experience may affect adolescents’ preferences to sexual dimorphism (Saxton et al. ) as well as perception of ethnic boundaries along Asian–Caucasian continuum (Webster et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…development of face-processing skills, developmental changes in the perspective from which the faces are viewed) may interact with the mere effect of visual exposure (for more discussion, see Cooper et al 2006). Also, other works suggest that 'natural' visual experience may affect adolescents' preferences to sexual dimorphism (Saxton et al 2009c) as well as perception of ethnic boundaries along Asian-Caucasian continuum (Webster et al 2004). However, the results of both of the above studies might be affected by very clear-cut exposure conditions (female vs. male, or Caucasian vs. Asian faces) that may generate possible after-effects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Cross‐Cultural Comparison of Population‐Specific Face Shape Preferences (Homo sapiens)

et al. 2012

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A substantial number of studies indicate that human facial features such as symmetry and averageness are preferred in human mate choice. Little is known, however, about face preferences in intra-population or between-cultural settings as only a few studies have addressed this topic. One hypothesis is that people prefer faces that resemble faces from their own population as a result of visual adaptation. Here we present results of an internet-based experiment in which male and female participants from two European nations, Poland and Scotland, were asked to choose between 'Polish-modified' and 'Scottish-modified' faces (i.e. face portraits modified along one of ten different dimensions to resemble faces of the respective populations) of both sexes while being unaware of the origins of the portraits. The results show that the preferences of Polish judges towards Polish-shaped faces were significantly stronger than the preferences of Scottish judges towards the Scottish-shaped faces. Moreover, both Polish and Scottish judges preferred Polish-shaped faces above Scottish-shaped faces. These results suggest that natural visual experience acquired in everyday interpersonal interactions may have limited influence on aesthetic preferences in these particular intra-population settings.

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“…To consider all the pros and cons, many researches showed the relative importance of different costs and benefits can be changed by many factors, such as menstrual cycle (e.g. Jones et al, 2008;Penton-Voak et al, 1999), attractiveness of women (Smith et al, 2009), and visual adaption (Saxton et al, 2009). Considering the hot phenomenon of androgynous stars, especially androgynous male stars, the phenomenon might also be another factor changing the balance of good-genes and off-spring investment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%