Preference for self-resembling faces in human mate choice and interpersonal relations

1. Preference for self-resembling faces in human mate choice and interpersonal relations Kocsor, F. – Juhász, Sz. – Rezneki, R. – Bereczkei, T. University of Pécs, Hungary Department of General and Evolutionary Psychology

2. Facial cues influencing attractiveness • Symmetry • Averageness • Masculinity/feminity • Self-resemblance(Bereczkei et al 2003, 2004, Gyuris 2003, DeBruine, 2002, 2004)

3. Effects of self-resemblance on attractiveness • reduces attractiveness of opposite sex faces (inbreeding avoidance), increases attractiveness of same-sex faces (affiliation toward kin) (Lisa deBruine 2004) • increases attractiveness of opposite sex faces; Physical, cultural and psychological symilarity of spouses are greater (Bereczkei et al. 2003, 2004) Contradiction to be solved

4. Objectives • Reveal the effect of self-resemblance on attractiveness • sexual / non-sexual context

5. Methods • Photos were taken of 150 volunteers • Average (composite) faces were made

6. Average faces

7. Making morphs • Marking of characteristic lines of the individual faces

8. Average faces Férfi+nő átlagképek ide Individual face Individual face 2 individuals

9. Average faces Férfi+nő átlagképek ide 4 individuals

10. Average faces Férfi+nő átlagképek ide 8 individuals

11. Male and female average faces made of 8 individuals

12. Making warps • Individual face • Average face

13. Warped to 10 %

14. Warped to 20 %

15. Warped to 30 %

16. Warped to 40 %

17. Warped to 50 %

18. Warped to 60 %

19. Warped to 70 %

20. Warped to 80 %

21. Warped to 90 %

22. Warped to 100 %

23. Average faces Warped to 60 % Individual face

24. Preliminary study and evaluation of warps • Below 60 % there was no self-recognition • Above 60 % faces become distorted • All 60 % warps were evaluated by independent judges, in terms of attractiveness

25. Design of experiment

26. Male participants – opposite sex faces Self-resembling face Other-resembling faces matched by attractiveness

27. Male participants – same sex faces Self-resembling face Other-resembling faces matched by attractiveness

28. Female participants – same sex faces Self-resembling face Other-resembling faces matched by attractiveness

29. Female participants – opposite sex faces Self-resembling face Other-resembling faces matched by attractiveness

30. Results Other sex images • Only men showed significant preference for self-resemblance Same sex images • Neither men nor women showed preference for self-resemblance Lack of preference or effect of sample size?

31. Conclusions • Men prefer self-resembling women • Women do not prefer self-resembling men, or draw their attention to other traits in potential long term partner • Homogamy is not an artefact caused by familiarity but specific psychological mechanism evolved for mate choice

32. Mechanism of homogamous mate choice • Phenotype matching • Sexual imprinting on the opposite-sex parent

33. References • Bereczkei T. et al. (2003): Homogámia, genetikus hasonlóság, imprinting Magyar Pszichológiai Szemle 4 • Bereczkei T., Gyuris P., Weisfeld, G. E. (2004): Sexual imprinting in human mate choice Proc. Royal Soc. Lond. B 271 • DeBruine, L. M. (2002):Facial resemblance enhances trust Proc. Royal Soc. Lond. B 269 • DeBruine, L. M. (2004):Facial Resemblace affect behaviour and attributions Hamilton, Ontario, McMaster University • DeBruine, L. M: et al. (2005): Women's attractiveness judgments of self-resembling faces change across the menstrual cycle Hormones and Behavior, Volume 47, Issue 4, April 2005, Pages 379-383 • Gyuris, P. (2003)Homogamy, imprinting, evolution: mate choice of women and men rearing in various family environments. PhD thesis, University of Pécs, Hungary. [In Hungarian.]

34. Thank you for your attention! Evolutionary Psychology Research Group of Pécs www.evolutionpsychology.com www.bereczkei.hu