Is perception of facial attractiveness more influenced by previous information or comparison?

• Published in: Psihološka obzorja Vol. 32; pp. 71 - 77
• Main Authors: Lucija Lučka Debelak, Kaja Klančar, Tinkara Strel, Rebeka Šumrada, Lea Vaupotič, Anka Slana Ozimič
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Slovenian Psychologists' Association 01.06.2023
• Subjects: attractiveness; comparison; prior information
• ISSN: 2350-5141
• DOI: 10.20419/2023.32.575

Perception of facial attractiveness is largely influenced by individual experiences and preferences, as well as various cognitive factors. Previous research has shown that when comparing multiple faces, choosing the most attractive face is influenced by prior information about how attractive the face appears to others and by the possibility to compare a face with a similar but obviously less attractive face. The aim of our study was to confirm previous findings on the influence of prior information and the possibility of comparison on the assessment of facial attractiveness, and to investigate which of the factors has a greater influence. 498 participants (146 males) aged between 12 and 51 years participated in an online study. Participants underwent three experimental conditions (prior information, comparison, and combined condition) in which their task was to select the most attractive face from photographs of comparatively attractive faces. Results showed that in the prior information condition, participants more often selected a face that others found more attractive compared to a face without such prior information. In the comparison condition, participants were more likely to select a face that could be compared to a similar but obviously less attractive face than a face for which this possibility did not exist. In the combined condition, participants more often chose a face for which prior information was provided than a face that could be compared to a similar but obviously less attractive face. The results confirm the findings of previous research on prior information and the possibility of comparison and suggest that prior information has a greater influence on the perception of facial attractiveness.