1. Significance of attractiveness

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

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

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

6. 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)

7. Do infants really prefer attractiveness?
Two observational studies with 12-month-olds
Stranger wearing mask
Doll play

8. Do infants really prefer attractiveness?
YES

9. 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!

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

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

12. 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)

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

15. 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?

16. Your thoughts on attractiveness