At face value : how internet access, pubertal timing, environmental harshness, and population familiarity influence facial preferences
Year: 2016
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Chapter One introduces the field of evolutionary psychology as well as provides a \nreview of factors influencing facial attractiveness. Chapter Two presents empirical evidence \nthat online studies may provide a distorted perspective on cross-cultural face preferences \nsince online samples are not representative of the populations in developing countries. In El \nSalvador, participants without internet access preferred more feminine men as well as heavier \nand more masculine women when compared to participants with internet access. One \npossible explanation for such findings is that the level of harshness in the environment may \nbe influencing preferences. One individual difference that is influenced by environmental \nharshness is age of menarche. Chapter Three thus provides exploratory evidence that age of \nmenarche also influences masculinity preferences. \nChapter Four further examines this environmental harshness hypothesis by repeatedly \ntesting students undergoing intensive training at an army camp. Increases in the harshness of \nthe environment led to an increased male attraction to cues of higher weight in female faces. \nSuch changes in preferences may be adaptive because they allow for more opportunities to \nform partnerships with individuals who are better equipped to survive. \nAn alternative explanation for the empirical findings in Chapters Two and Four is that \nfamiliarity may also influence preferences. Chapter Five tests this familiarity hypothesis by \nexamining the faces of participants in different areas of El Salvador and Malaysia. Rural \nparticipants preferred heavier female faces than urban participants. Additionally, the faces of \nfemale participants from rural areas were rated as looking heavier. This finding suggests that \nfamiliarity may indeed influence attractiveness perceptions. Lastly, Chapter Six draws \nconclusions from the empirical findings reported in Chapters Two-Five and lists proposals of \nfuture research that could further enhance our understanding of what we find attractive.
Author: Julia Carlota Batres
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2791887207