UK Wedding News
30/10/2013
Dr Drew Walker and Dr Edward Vul, of the University of California, explained that when it comes to "pulling power", it is better to be part of an attractive group of friends, rather than a "lone wolf".
Their results are published in the journal Psychological Science, and go on to suggest that being seen with a group of friends makes individuals appear more attractive to others, than if they were by themselves.
Experts think this is due to the way people tend to "average out" a group's attractiveness, so a person's appearance can be boosted if they are surrounded by better-looking companions.
Dr Walker, who is a psychological scientist, said: "Average faces are more attractive, likely due to the averaging out of unattractive idiosyncrasies.
"Perhaps it's like Tolstoy's families: beautiful people are all alike, but every unattractive person is unattractive in their own way."
For the study, the doctors established tests to see if the attractiveness of average faces, along with people's tendency to pool groups as an "ensemble", supports the theory that surrounding themselves with friends, especially good-looking ones, will improve an individual's perceived attractiveness.
Some 130 volunteer undergraduate students who were shown images of 100 people who were all rated by attractiveness. On some occasions, the person was judged in a group portrait with two others, while on other occasions they were by themselves.
The results revealed that the volunteers found both male and female subjects more attractive in the group photos. However, the effect was small, with people's looks "improving" by only 2%.
Dr Vul commented: "The effect is definitely small, but some of us need all the help we can get."
In another experiment, researchers discovered the 'group effect' even when the group picture was a collage of photos and not an actual group portrait.
"If the average is more attractive because unattractive idiosyncrasies tend to be averaged out, then individuals with complimentary facial features - one person with narrow eyes and one person with wide eyes, for example - would enjoy a greater boost in perceived attractiveness when seen together, as compared to groups comprised of individuals who have more similar features," Dr Vul added.
(JP/CD)
20/03/2020
LeToya Luckett-Walker Is Pregnant
Charlotte Crosby Finds New Romance
Lydia Bright Gets Candid About Giving Birth
Lana Del Ray Splits From Boyfriend
Angelica Ross Learns Of Boyfriend's Secret Life
Ashley Graham's Breastfeeding Struggle
Susanna Reid's Mother's Day Plans
Lin-Manuel Miranda Homeschooling Kids
Kristen Bell Speaks Of Pride For Daughters
Prince George & Princess Charlotte Now Homeschooled
Looking For Love 'Is More Successful In Groups'
New research has suggested that looking for love is more successful when done in groups.Dr Drew Walker and Dr Edward Vul, of the University of California, explained that when it comes to "pulling power", it is better to be part of an attractive group of friends, rather than a "lone wolf".
Their results are published in the journal Psychological Science, and go on to suggest that being seen with a group of friends makes individuals appear more attractive to others, than if they were by themselves.
Experts think this is due to the way people tend to "average out" a group's attractiveness, so a person's appearance can be boosted if they are surrounded by better-looking companions.
Dr Walker, who is a psychological scientist, said: "Average faces are more attractive, likely due to the averaging out of unattractive idiosyncrasies.
- - - - - - Advertisement - - - - - -
"Perhaps it's like Tolstoy's families: beautiful people are all alike, but every unattractive person is unattractive in their own way."
For the study, the doctors established tests to see if the attractiveness of average faces, along with people's tendency to pool groups as an "ensemble", supports the theory that surrounding themselves with friends, especially good-looking ones, will improve an individual's perceived attractiveness.
Some 130 volunteer undergraduate students who were shown images of 100 people who were all rated by attractiveness. On some occasions, the person was judged in a group portrait with two others, while on other occasions they were by themselves.
The results revealed that the volunteers found both male and female subjects more attractive in the group photos. However, the effect was small, with people's looks "improving" by only 2%.
Dr Vul commented: "The effect is definitely small, but some of us need all the help we can get."
In another experiment, researchers discovered the 'group effect' even when the group picture was a collage of photos and not an actual group portrait.
"If the average is more attractive because unattractive idiosyncrasies tend to be averaged out, then individuals with complimentary facial features - one person with narrow eyes and one person with wide eyes, for example - would enjoy a greater boost in perceived attractiveness when seen together, as compared to groups comprised of individuals who have more similar features," Dr Vul added.
(JP/CD)
Top stories
20/03/2020
LeToya Luckett-Walker Is Pregnant
Charlotte Crosby Finds New Romance
Lydia Bright Gets Candid About Giving Birth
Lana Del Ray Splits From Boyfriend
Angelica Ross Learns Of Boyfriend's Secret Life
Ashley Graham's Breastfeeding Struggle
Susanna Reid's Mother's Day Plans
Lin-Manuel Miranda Homeschooling Kids
Kristen Bell Speaks Of Pride For Daughters
Prince George & Princess Charlotte Now Homeschooled
