1. Preference for self-resembling faces in human mate choice and interpersonal relations
Kocsor, F. – Juhász, Sz. – Rezneki, R. – Bereczkei, T.
University of Pécs, Hungary
Department of General and Evolutionary Psychology

2. Facial cues influencing attractiveness
Symmetry
Averageness
Masculinity/feminity
Self-resemblance (Bereczkei et al 2003, 2004, Gyuris 2003, DeBruine, 2002, 2004)

3. Effects of self-resemblance on attractiveness
reduces attractiveness of opposite sex faces (inbreeding avoidance),
increases attractiveness of same-sex faces (affiliation toward kin) (Lisa deBruine 2004)
increases attractiveness of opposite sex faces; Physical, cultural and psychological symilarity of spouses are greater (Bereczkei et al. 2003, 2004)
Contradiction to be solved

4. Objectives Reveal the effect of self-resemblance on attractiveness
sexual / non-sexual context

5. Methods Photos were taken of 150 volunteers
Average (composite) faces were made

6. Average faces

7. Making morphs Marking of characteristic lines of the individual faces

8. Average faces Individual face 2 individuals Individual face
Férfi+nő átlagképek ide
Individual face
2 individuals
Individual face

9. Average faces
Férfi+nő átlagképek ide
4 individuals

10. Average faces
Férfi+nő átlagképek ide
8 individuals

11. Male and female average faces made of 8 individuals

12. Making warps
Individual face
Average face

13. Warped to 10 %

14. Warped to 20 %

15. Warped to 30 %

16. Warped to 40 %

17. Warped to 50 %

18. Warped to 60 %

19. Warped to 70 %

20. Warped to 80 %

21. Warped to 90 %

22. Warped to 100 %

23. Average faces
Warped to 60 %
Individual face

24. Preliminary study and evaluation of warps
Below 60 % there was no self-recognition
Above 60 % faces become distorted
All 60 % warps were evaluated by independent judges, in terms of attractiveness

25. Design of experiment

26. Other-resembling faces matched by attractiveness
Male participants – opposite sex faces
Self-resembling face
Other-resembling faces matched by attractiveness

27. Other-resembling faces matched by attractiveness
Male participants – same sex faces
Self-resembling face
Other-resembling faces matched by attractiveness

28. Other-resembling faces matched by attractiveness
Female participants – same sex faces
Self-resembling face
Other-resembling faces matched by attractiveness

29. Other-resembling faces matched by attractiveness
Female participants – opposite sex faces
Self-resembling face
Other-resembling faces matched by attractiveness

30. Results Other sex images
Only men showed significant preference for self-resemblance
Same sex images
Neither men nor women showed preference for self-resemblance
Lack of preference or effect of sample size?

31. Conclusions Men prefer self-resembling women
Women do not prefer self-resembling men, or draw their attention to other traits in potential long term partner
Homogamy is not an artefact caused by familiarity but specific psychological mechanism evolved for mate choice

32. Mechanism of homogamous mate choice
Phenotype matching
Sexual imprinting on the opposite-sex parent

33. References
Bereczkei T. et al. (2003): Homogámia, genetikus hasonlóság, imprinting Magyar Pszichológiai Szemle 4
Bereczkei T., Gyuris P., Weisfeld, G. E. (2004): Sexual imprinting in human mate choice Proc. Royal Soc. Lond. B 271
DeBruine, L. M. (2002): Facial resemblance enhances trust Proc. Royal Soc. Lond. B 269
DeBruine, L. M. (2004): Facial Resemblace affect behaviour and attributions Hamilton, Ontario, McMaster University
DeBruine, L. M: et al. (2005): Women's attractiveness judgments of self-resembling faces change across the menstrual cycle Hormones and Behavior, Volume 47, Issue 4, April 2005, Pages
Gyuris, P. (2003) Homogamy, imprinting, evolution: mate choice of women and men rearing in various family environments. PhD thesis, University of Pécs, Hungary. [In Hungarian.]

34. Thank you for your attention!
Evolutionary Psychology Research Group of Pécs