Facial Averageness Linked to Attractiveness
A new study reveals that facial averageness, rather than symmetry, plays a greater role in perceived attractiveness.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Romance
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Research published in Evolution and Human Behavior suggests that human attractiveness is more strongly driven by how closely a face aligns with population-specific averages. Distinctive features tended to correlate with lower attractiveness ratings in the study.
Why it matters
The findings challenge long-held assumptions regarding what humans find aesthetically appealing in others. Understanding these patterns provides insight into evolutionary psychology and universal social behaviors.
Researchers mapped 72 landmarks on photographs to assess attractiveness on a seven-point scale. Faces mirroring sex-specific and population-specific averages consistently outperformed highly distinctive faces.
The players
Evolution and Human Behavior
This peer-reviewed academic journal publishes research focused on the evolutionary basis of human behavior and psychology.
Anthony J. Lee
He is an academic researcher who conducted foundational studies regarding facial symmetry and attractiveness in 2021.
The details
Researchers utilized geometric morphometrics and Bayesian statistical models to analyze the faces of 1,550 individuals from 10 different countries. Contrary to traditional theories, facial asymmetry did not show a clear independent negative relationship with attractiveness once other traits were considered.
Timeline
The initial research on facial symmetry by Anthony J. Lee was conducted in 2021.
The study findings were published on September 21, 2026.
The Big Picture
This study advances the use of geometric morphometrics to quantify facial shape, shifting the focus from symmetry to averageness as a primary predictor of attractiveness.
This research provides a new lens for understanding the biological and social basis of interpersonal attraction. Readers may find that these findings influence how they interpret the universal human tendency to favor familiar, average facial characteristics.
The takeaway
The study demonstrates that our perception of beauty is heavily influenced by how closely a person fits the average appearance of their cultural group. Prioritizing average traits over unique features appears to be a consistent pattern across diverse populations.
Further reading
Explore the scientific research behind human attraction in our Romance section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Economic Times.
Live Poll
Do you believe physical symmetry is the primary factor in determining how attractive a person is?
