Abstract
Factors contributing to attractiveness were explored by manipulating the brightness contrast of facial features and by examining their effects on facial impressions, particularly in relation to facial shape. Images of male and female model faces were created using high contrast and low contrast between the eyebrows, eyes, nose, and mouth compared to the surrounding skin. For each model face, the degree of morphological sexual dimorphism was measured. Then, using a visual analog scale, 38 female college students evaluated the attractiveness, sexual dimorphism, and healthiness of the high-contrast and low-contrast faces. Their evaluations confirmed that morphological sexual dimorphism strongly influences female attractiveness. High morphological sexual dimorphism was rated as more attractive for female models' eyebrows, but low dimorphism was preferred for male models. Contrast manipulation, especially of the mouth and eyebrows, strongly influenced perceptions of sexual dimorphism and health in some cases, depending on the model gender.
