In many studies, this evolutionary view of attractiveness has been used to predict the specific characteristics of attractive faces (see [ 25] for review). Sexual selection is the theoretical framework for much work and a thorough discussion of this topic in general is beyond the current review.
The evolutionary basis of attraction: the functions of beauty 3. Adaptive individual differences 4. Summary and conclusions
After exposure to faces possessing certain traits, these traits come to be preferred [ 192, 240, 243, 244 ]. For example, if exposed to faces that look more like one identity, then new faces that resemble that identity are found more attractive than if exposed to the opposite set of face traits.
One study has indeed demonstrated that a desire for some personality traits influences judgements of facial attractiveness [ 121 ]. Individuals valuing particular personality traits find faces appearing to display these traits attractive.
In sum, the Evolutionary Advantage view suggests that attraction to symmetric individuals reflects an attraction to healthy individuals who would be good mates. The second theory to explain the preference for facial symmetry is Perceptual Bias .
The Evolutionary Advantage theory proposed that symmetrical faces are perceived as more attractive because the symmetry indicates good health in an individual. Everyone’s genes are designed to develop a face perfectly symmetrical, but as we grow, develop, and then age, disease, infections, and parasites cause imperfection in our appearance (asymmetry). Thus, those that have less asymmetry and imperfections, are perceived as having better and stronger immune systems to withstand the infections and parasites that occur naturally. So, symmetry is a good indicator of a person having good genes to pass on their offspring. Under the Evolutionary Advantage view of symmetric preferences, we have evolved to prefer symmetry and perceive it as attractive because over human history we have consistently and constantly preferred healthier individuals for mates. In sum, the Evolutionary Advantage view suggests that attraction to symmetric individuals reflects an attraction to healthy individuals who would be good mates.
If this is true, the ease of processing symmetrical stimuli would cause us to naturally prefer them to asymmetrical stimuli. Under this view, preferences for symmetrical faces would be no different than for any other object. So according to this, as well as preferring symmetrical faces, humans would also prefer more symmetrical objects of any kind. This has been supported as it has been found that people much prefer symmetrical pieces of abstract art and sculptures to asymmetrical ones.