PSYCHOLOGY MASTER'S THESIS ABSTRACT

Paul Arthur Wehr
MA-Research
December 1998

Impact of Childlike Features on Perceived Attractiveness in Computer-Manipulated Faces

    Predictions based on Sexual Selection Theory were made regarding the attractiveness of male and female faces.  It was proposed that the attractiveness of female targets would benefit from manipulations reflecting a more childlike appearance while male targets would not.  This prediction was based on existing research that has found a relationship between a childlike appearance and female, but not male, attractiveness.  Computer averaging and editing techniques were used to alter the appearance of male and female targets to appear more or less childlike.  Manipulations affected eye and nose sizes, lip fullness and eye separation.  Results from paired comparisons indicated that both male and female faces were preferred with a childlike appearance for the eye and nose size features as well as for the lip fullness feature.  More childlike eye separations were attractive for female faces but not for male faces.  Implications for evolutionary theory are discussed.

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