Measurement is aft er all the life-blood of any science. Second, if they are
universal, are they “hard-wired”? Colloquially, the term hard-wired implies
that our response to these features is built into our brains in the same
way. Finally, if they are universal, why did we evolve to fi nd these features
att ractive? (查看原文)
Th e Swiss pastor Johann Casper Lavater, in his 1772 Essays on
Physiognomy , wrote confi dently that the chin signifi es strength in a man
[13]. He claimed that an angular or receding chin is seldom found in “discreet,
well disposed, fi rm men.” He also asserted that horizontal eyebrows
that are “rich and clear always convey understanding, coldness of heart,
and the capacity to frame plans.” Perhaps not surprisingly, he thought that
European facial physiognomy was superior to others. (查看原文)
Sexual dimorphism refers to diff erences in physical features based on
gender. We saw that averaging and symmetry have similar eff ects on att ractiveness
for both men’s and women’s faces. But, what diff erentiates their
att ractiveness? Th e sex hormones, estrogen and testosterone, produce
sexually dimorphic physical features. Estrogen feminizes and testosterone
masculinizes features. Heterosexual men, regardless of their culture, fi nd
feminized features in women att ractive [20]. (查看原文)
Th e physical eff ects of estrogen are similar to what we see in babies’
faces. Faces that are baby-like have large eyes, thin eyebrows, big foreheads,
round cheeks, full lips, small noses, and small chins. People just
like these “cute” features. Th is fact was not lost on Walt Disney. In 1928,
Mickey Mouse made his animated appearance in a movie called Steamboat
Willie . Mickey started out long and lithe. In 1935, his animator gave him a
pear-shaped body, added pupils, and shortened his nose. Th e curious case
of Mickey Mouse is that he has become more like a baby, with a bigger
head and bigger eyes and smaller limbs, even as he got older over the last
80years. (查看原文)
Th e physical characteristics of the Playboy Playmate of
the Year from 1960 to 2000 track U.S. economic indicators. When economic
times are diffi cult, the Playmates are older, heavier, and taller; they
have larger waists, smaller eyes, larger waist-to-hip ratios, smaller bust-towaist
ratios, and larger body mass indices [36]. Similarly, between 1932
and 1995, American movie actresses with more mature features—small
eyes, thin cheeks, and larger chins—were popular when times were tough,
and those with baby-like features—large eyes, round cheeks, and small
chins—were popular when times were plentiful [37]. When the going
gets tough, the large get going in the eyes of amorous men. (查看原文)
