Summary:
The fact that composite faces tend to be judged as more attractive than their constituent images, gave researchers a reason to believe that the high attractiveness of composite faces proposed that averageness is the critical determinant of attractiveness. This is often referred to the Averageness Hypothesis. However, Petrrett et al. proved that averageness is not necessarily the critical determinant of facial attractiveness. In other words, Perrett el als' findings are evidence against the Averageness Hypothesis of facial attractiveness (which proposes that 'attractive faces are only average') because the findings show that highly attractive faces deviate systematically from an average shape.

Perrett et al. also found that exaggerating the physical differences between attractive faces and average faces increased their attractiveness. We participated in a similar experiment where we judged the attractiveness of 15 different male and female. We were shown masculinised and feminized faces (as well as controls where two of the exact same pictures were shown to compare). Both male and (especially) female participants demonstrated very strong preferences for the feminised versions of the faces, including the feminised male faces. From previous readings, we learnt that females prefer more masculine faces during ovulation (or simply menstruation).

Which variation do you find more attractive?

Rachel Putri Utomo
Block F, Honors Biology
Mr. Kevin Quick
Academic Year 2013-2014