The Science Of Beauty, Part III

In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare famously asked "What's in a name?"

Modern scientists are interested in answering another question: "What's in a face?"

David Perrett, a psychologist, author, and professor at the University of Saint Andrews, has dedicated his life to studying face preferences and perception. In his new book, "In Your Face: The New Science of Human Attraction," Perrett attempts to answer questions like "What does the human face tell us about an individual's health?," "Can facial features give clues about a person's trustworthiness?," and "How do humans evaluate potential partners' faces in order to choose the best mates?"

Beauty is, in many ways, subjective - but Perrett's work has lead him to believe that attractive bodies and faces tend to conform to a few general rules.

• As we discussed in Part I of the Science of Beauty series, symmetry plays a role in the perception of beauty, though it is far from the most important factor when determining attractiveness. The WHR - or waist-to-hip ratio - also contributes to the perception of someone as beautiful.
• Humans are attracted to "averageness." When photographs of multiple human faces are averaged into a single face, the composite image is usually considered more attractive than the individual pictures. Perrett explains this finding by saying that, although the phenomenon might seem contradictory, humans seek out things that feel familiar and comfortable to them and therefore often find averageness attractive.
• Female faces are considered most attractive when they exemplify femininity. Feminine faces are distinguished by characteristics like full lips, wide eyes, and arched eyebrows. Male faces have stronger, square jaws, thinner lips, and eyebrows that are less arched and closer to the eyes. When feminine characteristics are exaggerated, the faces are rated more attractive. The same reaction is not seen towards men with more masculine faces, however - studies have found that preferences for men with masculine faces vs. men with feminine faces tend to be a matter of personal opinion for women, rather than a biological imperative.
• Humans look at faces to determine the health of potential mates. A good complexion is a sigh of good health, so people who are considered beautiful have skin that is free of blemishes, shows smooth color gradations, and has a slight youthful glow. The ruddiness of a face hints at whether or not an individual has poor blood circulation, and the yellowness of a face indicates what kind of diet the person consumes.
• Beauty is tied to fertility. As a woman's fertility declines (It peaks at age 22) and she becomes a less desirable partner, her attractiveness declines as well. Chins become more pronounced with age, giving them a more masculine appearance. Eyelids begin to droop, making the eyes appear smaller, and the brow lowers and becomes flatter. Lips lose tissue and become thinner, and the nose and ears increase in size.

In spite of all the findings that confirm his theory that attractiveness follows identifiable rules, Perrett still believes that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and love ultimately wins the day. "Our brain chemistry can break all the rules and make us drawn to one person, even if that person's visage is not perfect," he told the Los Angeles Times.

Related Story: The Science Of Beauty, Part II, Science of Beauty, Part IV