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.

[cyborg]

Who's baiting you? Not me.

[blackbart.223]

There is a question unaswered between us. Why do think you I don't like indians or people from Nevada. Hell, I live in Nevada. You have to give an answer to this.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

"I wonder how many women are really godly women interested in making a man happy."

Both the husband and wife are to treat each other as better, more important than themselves. When we honor each other and forego selfish wishes, instead seeking to serve each other, it is amazing how quality friendships can develop.

Meanwhile, I have to agree with your quote--many women do look at the baubles and apparent security of the guy -- income, house, etc. rather than verify that he is walking with the Lord. God gives, God takes away. Health emergency, mudslide, car wrecks, strokes, etc. All those possessions and wealth can be gone in a flash.

One question I've asked myself when I thought I was in love was, "if this girl had a stroke and I had to hand-feed her and bathe her daily for 40 years, would I do it?" Not thinking the worst case, rather keeping in mind my commitment to marry once and once only...a reality check. I wonder how many women could give an honest yes to such a question .... (sigh)

[Monkey Face]

"I was just making an observation, no particular point. Some women go to church to hunt for men, and so they may not be all that godly and wouldn't be demanding certain things from a man."

True. But other women consider their God(s) to be Ultimate, and that that God has brought them to the man they seek.

If that is the case, then all men are "open" to the woman who is "hunting", no matter where or when her hunt comes from.

[cyborg]

Agreed.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

I think, men are more willing to admit than woman are willing to admit, that attractiveness matters.
I don't know, maybe the reason you have not notice it or seen in women, or women having this kind of behavior is because you might not have looked at it with a open mind or from a subjective standpoint of view.
I hope I am not sounding to frank here, but, I call a SPADE A SPADE when I see it. I don't know, you just have to be there, when you see it happening.
For example, there was this guy in church that most women ( if not all ) were not attracted to.
One day, he was talking ( he was trying to show his interest to her ) to one of my friends, and I could see the discomfort level in her face.
When I walked up to her while she was talking to him, I saw the look in her face, she had this look of relief on her face, and told me to talk to him instead of her talking to him, I knew what she was doing.

[cyborg]

I don't doubt women can be vicious but this society is not tolerant of imperfect women. Believe that.

[blackbart.223]

"I wonder how many women are really godly women interested in making a man happy."

A good question. I stay single, drunk and pleased with life.

[cyborg]

BTW, a guy can be 'unattractive' but he has to dress halfway decent. A really good suit can work wonders. Funny enough I don't think this works the same for women, but I've never tested that little theory. I do know that you can put the ugliest man in a Marines uniform and women will want to rip it off *LOL*

[Prophet in the wilderness]

I have seen this kind of attitude and behavior of women in many churches ( not in just one church ) and social functions. Lets be honest here, women are just as concerned about looks and attractiveness as men are, but, women are not as obvious about it as men are

[cyborg]

LOL awwww c'mon. Don't deprive womankind like that.

[k2blader]

This may sound a little weird, but based on what I've heard from some folks, I think my church is very different from many others out there. Although individually we may have disagreements over things, there is always a genuine and palpable warmth--a sense of security, peace, and joy-- present within and among us when we gather. It's very difficult to imagine it could be any other way. :-]

Most of us are already married, but there is a small group of single people, men and women in their 20's & 30's, who could make nice couples but appear to have little interest in dating each other. *LOL* I don't know why that is, but it could be something as simple as shyness.

[k2blader]

Huh?

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

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.

Sounds like they were afraid to say which face the babies chose if shown faces, one "pretty" African and one "pretty" European. I have read somewhere that children of either race almost always choose the European. Might have been choice of dolls or something like that.

[cyborg]

I hear many singles aren't treated well in churches. Also, I also hear that singles groups and events in some churches are like viper nests. It could be shyness. If a guy is too paralyzed by shyness, he'll never ask out a girl that he likes.

[BykrBayb]

Is that a belly button, or something you're not allowed to show here?

[k2blader]

I don't disagree with you! It's just that your story about women at *church* of all places... it was just rather sad...

[cyborg]

That was a doll experiment done with black girls and white dolls. A lot of it has to do with the images of beauty in society.

[blackbart.223]

"Don't deprive womankind like that."

A fellow cynic I assume.

[cyborg]

BTW, doing such an experiment would depend on what kind of parents the baby has. If a baby with two white parents didn't pick a black person that doesn't necessarily mean that the person isn't attractive. Just doesn't look like mommy and daddy. This can be a repeated for biracial babies, black babies adopted by white parents,etc.