EFFECTS OF FEATURE VARIATIONS ON ATTRIBUTIONS FOR SCHEMATIC FACES

31 subjects classified 16 schematic faces on six dimensions. Attractiv eness was generally associated with widely separated eyes, a short nos e, and high feature placement. When features were considered in combin ation, faces with low placement were judged attractive, although the e ffect was mitigated by a narrow mouth. Previous findings concerning pe rceived age and gender were partially replicated, but folk wisdom fink ing intelligence to low placement (high forehead) was refuted. It is s uggested that the relationship between individual features and attribu tions is nonlinear and interactive, and that researchers should invest igate these hypotheses by exercising finer control over feature variat ions.