Generalization of mere exposure effects to averaged composite faces

Exposure increases positive affective responses to stimuli (the mere exposu re effect). In nonsocial stimuli, this increased positive affect can genera lize to a prototype or average of those stimuli. We investigated whether in creased positive affect for previously seen faces generalizes to averaged c omposites of those faces. In two experiments, exposure to individual faces increased liking ratings of averaged composites (not seen previously) of th ose faces, in addition to the faces themselves. Attractiveness ratings of a veraged composites also increased after exposure to component faces in Expe riment 1 but not in Experiment 2. These results raised the possibility that a generalized mere exposure affect contributes to the appeal of average fa ces, although the evidence was stronger for generalization of liking than a ttractiveness.