HUMAN (HOMO-SAPIENS) FACIAL ATTRACTIVENESS AND SEXUAL SELECTION - THEROLE OF SYMMETRY AND AVERAGENESS

We hypothesized from the parasite theory of sexual selection that men (Home sapiens) would prefer averageness and symmetry in women's faces, that women would prefer averageness and symmetry in men's faces, and that women would prefer largeness (not averageness) of the secondary s exual traits of men's faces. We generated computer images of men's and women's faces and of composites of the faces of each sex, and then ha d men and women rate opposite-sex faces for 4 variables (attractive, d ominant, sexy, and healthy). Symmetry, averageness, and the sizes of f acial features were measured on the computerized faces. The hypotheses were supported, with the exception of the hypothesized effects of ave rageness of female and male faces on attractiveness ratings. This is t he first study to show that facial symmetry has a positive influence o n facial attractiveness ratings.