Attractiveness, distinctiveness, and recognition of faces: attractive faces can be typical or distinctive but are not better recognised.

Wickham, Lee H. V. and Morris, Peter E. (2003) Attractiveness, distinctiveness, and recognition of faces: attractive faces can be typical or distinctive but are not better recognised. American Journal of Psychology, 116 (3). pp. 455-468. ISSN 1939-8298

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Abstract

The debate surrounding the relationship between facial attractiveness and distinctiveness appears to arise from different deŸnitions of distinctiveness. In our study unfamiliar faces were rated for attractiveness, age, and distinctiveness. Two measures of distinctiveness were used: ease of spotting the face in a crowd (traditional) and deviation from an average face (deviation). Recognition was not predicted by attractiveness. The traditional ratings produced a complex relationship with attractiveness, where unattractive faces were distinctive, but attractive faces were rated at all levels of distinctiveness. When the effects of age were partialled out, attractiveness no longer predicted traditional distinctiveness. However, deviation ratings produced a strong negative correlation with attractiveness, even when the effects of age were removed.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
American Journal of Psychology
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3200/3205
Subjects:
?? experimental and cognitive psychologybf psychology ??
ID Code:
18782
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
04 Nov 2008 09:00
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 09:37