Why Men Prefer Pretty Faces

channels.netscape.com ^ | Feb. 18, 2004 | channels.netscape.com

[crushelits]

Why Men Prefer Pretty Faces

So you think beauty is in the eye of the beholder? Think again. According to new research from the University of Exeter in Great Britain, the preference for pretty faces over ugly ones is embedded in our brains from the moment of birth and possibly prior to birth.

Newborn babies come fully equipped with built-in preferences, including a preference for an attractive face, that help them make sense of their new environment, report the BBC News Online and Newsweek magazine. The Exeter researchers showed more than 100 infants two images that were placed side by side. One was of an attractive face, while the other was a less attractive face. The babies, ranging in age from five hours old to two days old, spent about 80 percent of the time looking at the attractive face, while barely glancing at the unattractive face.

"You can show them pair after pair of faces that are matched for everything other than attractiveness. This leads to the conclusion that babies are born with a very detailed representation of the human face," Dr. Alan Slater, a psychologist at Exeter, explained to the BBC News. Why would infants have this capability? "It helps them to recognize familiar faces--particularly that of the mother--and it helps them in learning about the social world. Attractiveness is not simply in the eye of the beholder, it is in the brain of the newborn infant right from the moment of birth and possibly prior to birth," he added.
When those babies grow up, the preference for pretty faces doesn't change. And it crosses all cultures and geography as well. When an insular European is shown the faces of two Africans, the one he chooses as most attractive is also the same one an African chooses. And it works the other way around when an African is shown the faces of two Europeans.

"Although we think that standards of facial beauty vary over time and culture, they don't actually change that much," Slater explained to Newsweek. The evidence indicates that there is a biological and universal standard."

So don't blame a man when he can't help but look at a pretty face! He's biologically programmed that way.

[blackbart.223]

The one on the left is Susan's father. On the other hand it could be her mother.

[beyond the sea]

SWEET! .......... who is she.

****

My mother never let my sister leave the house looking like that.

[sweetliberty]

[cyborg]

I was looking for a Maria pic just for you.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Yes,, first picture, good example of beauty, 2 nd picture ???????????????????????????????? what is it ?????
( It ) is confused what " IT IS " female or male ?

[beyond the sea]

Maria Sharapova

Hey, could you stick one of these on here....... since I'm computer illiterate.

*****

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1168079/posts --posts# 4, 9

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1164827/posts -- posts # 10, 23

[nothingnew]

I hate you.

FMCDH(BITS)

[Prophet in the wilderness]

More like Mental disorder

[Monkey Face]

But for the smile...

[djf]

Just a guess, but they seem to have certain traits in common. Rounder, rather than triangular, square or elongated. Wide set eyes. Accented cheekbones. Less forehead rather than more. Full lips, but not excessive. Well matched (in size) angular, not bulbous, nose. Fine, rather than course hair.

[Monkey Face]

Who are your "people"?

[blackbart.223]

Tennis player right?

Who cares if she plays tennis?

[finnman69]

[Prophet in the wilderness]

I wonder how much money she would raise for ( KISSES FOR A DOLLAR ? ) charity fund raiser ? Come on ladies ? lets be honest, would you kiss a man that looked like this ?

[Prophet in the wilderness]

lol ,

[Blue Jays]

Hi crushelits-

You'll need to label your photographs because some folks not "hip" on entertainers have no idea who they are. Her name is either Lester Cohen or Retna Ltd, but I'm not sure. Weird names for girls, either way.

~ Blue Jays ~

[cyborg]

BTTT

[cyborg]

Women put up with men's imperfections way more than the other way around.

[TheBrotherhood]

My people are your people. :)

[scab4faa]