Significance of attractiveness Attractiveness preferences Adults and children

Significance of attractiveness

Attractiveness preferences: Adults and children exercise and act in accord with the “beauty-is-good” stereotype. Both prefer attractive people and faces. Possible sources?

Do infants prefer attractive faces? YES As young as 2 -3 -months infants show visual preferences for attractive female faces

Do infants’ preferences for attractive faces generalize? YES Multiple studies replicate the finding

Research conclusions Young infants prefer attractive over unattractive face regardless of gender, race, or age Infant preferences are evident at an age too young to be significantly influenced by socialization (e. g. , TV, parents)

Do infants really prefer attractiveness? Two observational studies with 12 -montholds Stranger wearing mask Doll play

Do infants really prefer attractiveness? YES

Conclusions Infants early visual preferences are similar to adult and child social preferences for attractive people Social preferences and differential treatment develop by 12 months!

What makes a face attractive? Faces that are closer to the average facial configuration are judged to be more attractive (Langlois & Roggman, 1990)

Averageness Some examples with faces: Facial averaging based on experience with faces (newborns don’t show preferences)

What is attractiveness? Averageness: “average” facial configuration Average = the mathematical average or mean value of a population of faces Perception: not average, but HIGHLY attractive! Familiar and fluently processed Associated with positive affect! (e. g. , EMG)

What makes a face attractive? Less Similar Unattractive More Similar Prototype Attractive

Where do these early preferences come from? Socialization is unlikely Acquired through early experience & prototype formation Foundation for stereotypes and discrimination is present very early in development! Implications?

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