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.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Yeah, she wants to slip you the toung, with a few rotten teeth added as bonus. Barfffffffffffffffff.

[TheBrotherhood]

Not yet; am studying to become one eventually.

How is life at your new abode?

[djf]

I was never very moved by brunettes.

But this one's not bad.

[Age of Reason]

"Care to post a pic of yourself?"

"How 'bout you post a pic of yourself"

(sigh) 'Tis a great nuisance being so very handsome!

Ver well: http://www.geocities.com/cygallery/rubens/1j_paris.jpg

[longtermmemmory]

What is it with the UK and all the freaky junk science stories?

They skipped over the fact that baby brains are still GROWING even after birth. How about the fact that baby eyes are focused on being able to see a few feet in front of it. About the distance to a mother's face.

If it one standard was hard wired then over time only one face would have appeared. There would be only ONE hair color (or whatever) because all other humans would never find a mate to pass on genes.

This study must have been sponsored by a cosmetics company or someone who has an insecurity investment.

[Nail]

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

European, but she's already been purged.

More European Treasure (some might call it trash) here:

 

 

 

[Prophet in the wilderness]

man oh man ,,, that is so freaky and spooky.
The resemblance is , well, stunning, and I am stunned in shock.

[GeronL]

who is it?

Anyway,.. I guess Nicole deBoer will always be one of my favorites

[TheBrotherhood]

I agree. Beautiful girls.

Especially the one with the caption "no words for this."

[djf]

Sophie Marceau

[Prophet in the wilderness]

This goes to show you, that GOD is still in the business of creating beautiful works of art.

[BobS]

A woman with the happy smile of her choice will do. Dourness won't do.

[dennisw]

She ranks near the top especially in that Bond film

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Not even a case of whiskey.

[Kitten Festival]

I think the funniest caption is the girls selling tee-shirts from their car and some guy named Joe says 'I will protest anything these two want me to.'

[jellybean]

Those are two repulsive looking women.

Not repulsive, but I don't consider either one very pretty.

[sully777]

http://www.cineposters.com/home/?PosterID=R-152&templatename=_posterdisplay

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000521/

[squirt-gun]

Re 53....No!! Drum face is her name.

[KimmyJaye]

Proof positive for my tagline.

Thanks. ;-)

[SweetCaroline]

I noticed this with my grandson when he was about 6 months old. When he was in the doctors office he would only smile for the nurses that were pretty. I am not kidding. He wouldn't smile at the not so pretty ones for anything/p>