The Science Behind Beauty

By Lucy Williams, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent

ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The term "easy on the eyes" is closer to the truth than you may think.

Balanced and familiar patterns and shapes are more appealing because they are easy for the brain to process, according to a recent study.

"People are attracted to normal sizes and balanced, symmetrical features," study leader Piotr Winkielman, Ph.D., of University of California at San Diego, told Ivanhoe.

The study indicates easy, or fluent, processing of images elicits positive reactions. Factors that enhance an object's fluency are clarity, symmetry and prior exposure.

In the study, three different experiments were used to determine whether fluent processing of prototypes would elicit positive response. In two experiments, participants categorized and rated the attractiveness of random-dot patterns and common geometric patterns. In the third experiment, patient reaction was measured by muscle activity in the face.

Participants showed the most positive response to simple, balanced shapes and patterns. This suggests ease of mental processing contributes to human attraction.

"The subject is interesting to psychologists because it reflects evolutionary predisposition to look for the best mate," said Dr. Winkielman. "We screen for disease by looking for imperfections."

The beauty-in-averageness effect is a phenomenon that explains biological predisposition to assign higher mate value to people with prototypical features. People tend to prefer highly prototypical faces and bodies because these features seemingly indicate current or prior health. Recent research suggests prototypical facial features have little relation to actual health.

Beauty-in-averageness also explains why people are attracted to the girl-next-door and boy-next-door types, according to Dr. Winkielman. He said people are generally attracted to faces with balanced, symmetrical features that are easy for the brain to process.

"Massively popular actresses like Scarlett Johansson and Gwyneth Paltrow are not exactly exotic," he said. "Their faces are very balanced and symmetrical. It's actually rare to find a face with perfect balance."

"Supermodels are generally admired. Most are extremely tall and they are, essentially, bigger-than-life or fantasies," Dr. Winkielman said. "But if you take a look at who people are generally attracted to, those women are more of the girl-next-door type.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: Ivanhoe interview with Piotr Winkielman, Ph.D., University of California at San Diego; Psychological Science, 2006;17:799-806