Being objectively good-looking will open a lot of doors in life, but new research suggests that it takes more than just a pretty face to make someone attractive. A recent study finds attraction goes much deeper than just a person’s facial features, it comes from a mix of shared traits, personal preferences and surprising non-verbal signals.
Previously, scientists believed people were more likely to prefer symmetrical faces and signs of “biological fitness,” basically features that show good health and good genes. But now an international team of researchers has discovered attraction is much more complex and varies from person to person.
- For the study, they took photos, videos, voice recordings and even body odor samples (which were collected from wearing sweat pads while exercising) from 61 men and women.
- Then the team of researchers tested how different senses affect attraction by having 71 other young adults rate each of these samples.
- They were able to separate the senses to see which ones matter most in attraction and how they overlap.
It turns out, most people prefer a multisensory experience - they’re attracted to not just one thing, but a combination of faces, voices, and movement. But when looking at each trait alone, a person’s voice is the best indicator they’re attractive, while their body odor and surprisingly, their appearance are the weakest attributes. So, it matters less what you look like and more about the total package.
Source: NY Post⠀