Looking Directly at Someone Increases Your Attractiveness

British scientists at the Universities of Aberdeen and Sterling determined directly looking at someone is the secret that causes them to perceive you as more attractive. This perception intensifies even more, if you smile and directly look at a person of the opposite gender.

Dr. Claire Conway is the author of the study at the University of Aberdeen. The study was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences on November 7^th. According to Dr. Conway face preference research used to primarily focus on physical attractiveness markers. However, in this new study, the focus was on the results that could be achieved when the way a gaze was directed was changed. Gender and facial expressions were also factors of the study, which aimed at the determination of what combination people would prefer.

For purposes of the study, the participants were split up into four groups. The participants were asked to evaluate the attractiveness of images they were shown based on a rating system.

The scientists concluded that a great variety of factors determine whether a person is perceived to be facially attractive. The determination of these factors was a rather intricate process, which was furthermore complicated by the fact that a combination of factors determines facial attractiveness.

Usually, if people are asked to name attractive facial characteristics, they reply with physical characteristics like flawless and healthy skin, facial symmetry, and other markers typically thought of as a sign of attractiveness. However, the British scientists found out that gaze direction, facial expression, and gender, are very important factors that determine facial attractiveness.

According to the research, people are definitely more attracted to happy and smiling faces, which directly look at them, and are of the opposite gender. Thus, if the gaze is even slightly averted, the face is judged as being less attractive, even if otherwise it might have been attractive by physical characteristic standards.

Therefore, the study showed attraction is not only about physical beauty. People tend to prefer faces they perceive as liking them, which is normally indicated by a direct and friendly gaze.

Dr. Conway thinks that the brain is wired this way so people can "attract members of the opposite sex who seem the most receptive to our interest in them." Remember this study the next time you want to get to know a person of the opposite sex.