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

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

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Attractiveness, distinctiveness, and recognition of faces: attractive faces can be typical or distinctive but are not better recognised. / Wickham, Lee H. V.; Morris, Peter E.
In: American Journal of Psychology, Vol. 116, No. 3, 2003, p. 455-468.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Bibtex

@article{683d29402a764c58ae79d03dd30cf5d2,

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

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.",

author = "Wickham, {Lee H. V.} and Morris, {Peter E.}",

year = "2003",

language = "English",

volume = "116",

pages = "455--468",

journal = "American Journal of Psychology",

issn = "1939-8298",

publisher = "University of Illinois Press",

number = "3",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Attractiveness, distinctiveness, and recognition of faces: attractive faces can be typical or distinctive but are not better recognised.

AU - Wickham, Lee H. V.

AU - Morris, Peter E.

PY - 2003

Y1 - 2003

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

M3 - Journal article

VL - 116

SP - 455

EP - 468

JO - American Journal of Psychology

JF - American Journal of Psychology

SN - 1939-8298

IS - 3

ER -

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