Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Relationship Formation02:12

Relationship Formation

What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
Facial Feedback Hypothesis01:24

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role of...
Factors Influencing Attraction II: Physical Attraction01:21

Factors Influencing Attraction II: Physical Attraction

Physical attractiveness plays a crucial role in shaping interpersonal attraction, influencing first impressions, social interactions, and long-term relationship dynamics. Psychological research consistently demonstrates that attractiveness affects social evaluations and behavioral outcomes in various contexts.Influence on Social InteractionsResearch has shown that individuals perceived as physically attractive often experience preferential treatment in social and professional settings. One...
Factors Influencing Attraction III: Similarity01:23

Factors Influencing Attraction III: Similarity

The similarity hypothesis suggests that individuals are more likely to form relationships with others who share similar attitudes, beliefs, values, and interests. This concept has been widely studied in social psychology, demonstrating that perceived similarity fosters interpersonal attraction. In an experiment supporting this hypothesis, participants were presented with fabricated information indicating that strangers held attitudes similar to their own. The results showed that participants...
Factors Influencing Attraction IV: Reciprocity01:28

Factors Influencing Attraction IV: Reciprocity

Reciprocity in attraction is fundamental to social and romantic relationships, shaping how individuals form and maintain connections. The psychological principle underlying this phenomenon is that people tend to like those who express liking toward them. Balance theory supports this tendency, suggesting that mutual attraction fosters psychological harmony, whereas one-sided affection leads to discomfort and cognitive dissonance.The Psychological Mechanisms Behind ReciprocityWhen individuals...
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Little evidence for group differences in 2D:4D ratios based on sexual orientation after adjusting for publication bias.

Hormones and behavior·2026
Same author

Facial femininity of potential rivals predicts jealousy in both heterosexual and lesbian women.

Scientific reports·2025
Same author

Participants reporting greater desire to have children demonstrate weaker preferences for younger adult faces.

PloS one·2025
Same author

No Evidence That Women's Sociosexuality or Self-Perceived Mate Value Predict Their Preferences for Men's Face-Shape Masculinity.

Evolutionary psychology : an international journal of evolutionary approaches to psychology and behavior·2025
Same author

Testing for individual differences in the effects of men's physical attractiveness and perceived abusiveness on women's hypothetical dating decisions.

Scientific reports·2025
Same author

No Evidence that People Born to Older Parents Show Weaker Preferences for Younger Adult Faces.

Adaptive human behavior and physiology·2025
Same journal

The microlandscapes of tree trunks: the effect of lichen and tree-level characteristics on arthropod communities.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Centimetre-scale landscapes to assess the motion behaviour and cognition of gastropods and bivalves.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Intertidal microcosms of wave-swept rocky shores: ecological and physiological insights from a uniquely stressful environment.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Temporal and spatial variation in temperature and oxygen at the microscale: key niche axes for aquatic life.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Natural microcosms in ecology: fulfilling the promise of model systems?

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Microbe-induced galls and plant defence: metabolite crosstalk in a co-evolutionary battle.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Protocol for Data Collection and Analysis Applied to Automated Facial Expression Analysis Technology and Temporal Analysis for Sensory Evaluation
07:12

Protocol for Data Collection and Analysis Applied to Automated Facial Expression Analysis Technology and Temporal Analysis for Sensory Evaluation

Published on: August 26, 2016

Facial attractiveness: evolutionary based research.

Anthony C Little1, Benedict C Jones, Lisa M DeBruine

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK. anthony.little@stir.ac.uk

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|May 4, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Facial attractiveness influences crucial social decisions, from relationships to hiring. Individual preferences for faces are shaped by various biological and experiential factors, promoting adaptive social choices.

More Related Videos

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face
08:15

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Published on: January 7, 2019

Holistic Facial Composite Creation and Subsequent Video Line-up Eyewitness Identification Paradigm
09:49

Holistic Facial Composite Creation and Subsequent Video Line-up Eyewitness Identification Paradigm

Published on: December 24, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Protocol for Data Collection and Analysis Applied to Automated Facial Expression Analysis Technology and Temporal Analysis for Sensory Evaluation
07:12

Protocol for Data Collection and Analysis Applied to Automated Facial Expression Analysis Technology and Temporal Analysis for Sensory Evaluation

Published on: August 26, 2016

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face
08:15

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Published on: January 7, 2019

Holistic Facial Composite Creation and Subsequent Video Line-up Eyewitness Identification Paradigm
09:49

Holistic Facial Composite Creation and Subsequent Video Line-up Eyewitness Identification Paradigm

Published on: December 24, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Social Neuroscience

Background:

  • Face preferences significantly impact social outcomes, including mate selection, platonic relationships, hiring, and social exchange.
  • Understanding the determinants of face preferences is key to comprehending social decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review facial characteristics influencing attractiveness judgments.
  • To examine individual differences in face preferences.
  • To understand the adaptive functions of face preference systems.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on facial attractiveness and preference.
  • Synthesis of research on facial cues (symmetry, sexual dimorphism, averageness, skin properties, personality cues).
  • Analysis of factors contributing to individual differences (hormones, fertility, self-perception, experience, familiarity, social learning).

Main Results:

  • Facial attractiveness is determined by specific characteristics like symmetry, averageness, sexual dimorphism, skin quality, and perceived personality traits.
  • Individual face preferences vary due to factors such as hormone levels, fertility, self-attractiveness, personality, visual experience, familiarity, and social learning.
  • These preferences reflect flexible and sophisticated systems supporting adaptive social decision-making.

Conclusions:

  • Face perception and preference systems are finely tuned to maximize benefits in social interactions, both for reproduction and general social partnerships.
  • The interplay of facial cues and individual differences creates nuanced preferences that guide adaptive social behavior.
  • Understanding face preferences offers insights into evolutionary psychology and social cognition.