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Influence of facial shape on perceived attractiveness
Nikolaos Gkantidis1, Sven Stucki2, Mohammed Ghamri2,3
1Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. nikolaos.gkantidis@unibe.ch.
Progress in Orthodontics
|March 25, 2026
Summary
Facial shape significantly influences perceived attractiveness in females, linked to balanced proportions and angular features. While trends were observed in males, the association was not statistically significant in this study.
Area of Science:
- Anthropometry
- Facial Morphology
- Perception Psychology
Background:
- Facial attractiveness is perceived as subjective but influenced by cultural, social, and biological factors.
- Understanding the objective determinants of facial attractiveness is crucial for fields like psychology and anthropology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between three-dimensional (3D) facial shape and attractiveness ratings.
- To determine if these associations differ between males and females.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 3D facial photography and geometric morphometrics to analyze facial shape in 601 young adults.
- Quantified facial shape using 29 anatomical curves and 1,021 landmarks.
- Assessed attractiveness via Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) by six external examiners and employed multivariate regression models.
Main Results:
- Facial shape significantly correlated with attractiveness ratings in females (η² = 0.075), with higher ratings linked to balanced proportions, angularity, and specific lip features.
- In males, a comparable effect size (η² = 0.070) was observed, but the association lacked statistical significance (P = 0.106).
- Attractive male faces showed tendencies towards angularity, defined structure, and specific profile characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Facial shape is demonstrably linked to externally perceived attractiveness, particularly in females.
- Findings support previous research on self-perceived attractiveness and highlight the role of facial morphology in societal perceptions.
Keywords:
EstheticsFace/anatomy and histologyHumansObserversPhysical attractivenessThree-dimensional imagingMore Related Videos
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