Social learning and facial attractiveness
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Aberdeen
Department Name: Psychology
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
Publications
Caldwell CA
(2009)
Social learning mechanisms and cumulative cultural evolution. Is imitation necessary?
in Psychological science
Jones BC
(2010)
Facial cues of dominance modulate the short-term gaze-cuing effect in human observers.
in Proceedings. Biological sciences
| Description | Observing social interactions influences attractiveness judgments of the actors involved. Perceptions of others' attractiveness was increased when other individuals appeared to respond positively to them (i.e., smiled at them). This effect was observed regardless of the type of interaction observed (same-sex or opposite-sex interaction) and was seen in both male and female participants. The attractiveness of the person doing the smiling and the attractiveness of the participant interacted. People were more likely to copy the social preferences of people who were similar to them in attractiveness. This extends our prior work showing social transmission of face preferences in humans (Jones et al. 2007 Proceedings B). Additionally, we found that these effects were not caused by increased tendency to simply look where attractive individuals were looking or increased sensitivity to gaze cues in attractive individuals. Papers reporting these results were published in Proceedings B and Psychological Science. A full list of the papers arising from this project is given in our publications list. |
| Exploitation Route | The results have been presented at public science events (British Science Festival 2008 and 2009). |
| Sectors | Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| URL | http://www.facelab.org |
| Description | Observing social interactions influences attractiveness judgments of the actors involved. Perceptions of others' attractiveness was increased when other individuals appeared to respond positively to them (i.e., smiled at them). This effect was observed regardless of the type of interaction observed (same-sex or opposite-sex interaction) and was seen in both male and female participants. The attractiveness of the person doing the smiling and the attractiveness of the participant interacted. People were more likely to copy the social preferences of people who were similar to them in attractiveness. This extends our prior work showing social transmission of face preferences in humans (Jones et al. 2007 Proceedings B). Additionally, we found that these effects were not caused by increased tendency to simply look where attractive individuals were looking or increased sensitivity to gaze cues in attractive individuals. Papers reporting these results were published in Proceedings B and Psychological Science. A full list of the papers arising from this project is given in our publications list. Additionally, two presentations reporting parts of these results were presented at the 2008 British Science Festival (Liverpool) and the 2009 British Science Festival (Guilford). A short interview with Dr Jones from the Liverpool festival about the research project was broadcast on BBC News 24. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2008 |
| Sector | Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural |