Matching Hypotheses of Similarity of Shapes of Faces and of Similarity of Attractiveness of Faces

Abstract

Attractiveness similarity ratings and shape similarity ratings for the faces of actual and of random couples (produced from wedding pictures of Koreans) were analyzed. Both attractiveness similarity and shape similarity of actual couples were higher than those of random couples. Differences in the attractiveness similarity between actual and random couples based on attractiveness ratings on single faces were not significant but the result patterns were consistent with Attractiveness Matching hypothesis. Differences in the shape similarity between actual and random couples based on categorization of single faces into one of seven categories (circle, oval, square, rectangle, diamond, triangle, and inverted triangle) were not significant, but the result patterns were also consistent with the Matching Principle. Results were interpreted as partial support for Similarity-Attraction or Assortative Mating hypothesis, especially for Mere-Exposure Effect explanation (Hinsz, 1989) or Imprinting explanation rather than Zajonc et al's (1987) Emotional Efference explanation.