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Attractiveness bias: A cognitive explanation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 March 2017

Stevie S. Schein ,
Logan T. Trujillo  and
Judith H. Langlois
Stevie S. Schein
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 scheinst@utexas.edu jlanglois@austin.utexas.edu
Logan T. Trujillo
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Texas State University, Austin, TX 78712. logant@txstate.edu
Judith H. Langlois
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 scheinst@utexas.edu jlanglois@austin.utexas.edu
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Abstract

According to cognitive averaging theory, preferences for attractive faces result from their similarity to facial prototypes, the categorical central tendencies of a population of faces. Prototypical faces are processed more fluently, resulting in increased positive affect in the viewer.

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Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 40 , 2017 , e43
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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