The Influence of Width Ratios on Structural Beauty in Male Faces

TL;DR

This study examines how the ratio of interocular distance to facial width influences perceived attractiveness in male faces, confirming that average proportions are generally rated as more attractive.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence that averageness in facial width ratios correlates with higher attractiveness ratings in male faces, extending previous female-focused research.

Findings

Average facial width ratios are preferred in attractiveness judgments.

Methodologically, controlling for image artifacts is crucial in facial attractiveness studies.

Findings have applications in advertising, face generation, and plastic surgery.

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between interocular distance relative to overall facial width (width ratio) and perceived subjective beauty in male faces. Building on the methodology of Pallett et al. (2010), who found that average proportions in female faces were rated as most attractive, the current study aimed to test this hypothesis in male faces. Faces from the Chicago Face Database (Ma et al., 2015) were morphed into average faces within three groups (with low, medium, and high width ratios), each composed of 96 or 97 individual images. These three average faces were then systematically manipulated in their width ratios across three levels in both directions, respectively, resulting in a total of 21 comparable faces. The use of multiple base faces served as a control for potential artifacts of image processing. Consequently, comparisons were restricted to within-group pairs to avoid confounding by co-varying facial features (e.g., skin tone), which precluded direct cross-condition comparisons but ensured internal validity. In a two-alternative forced-choice task, participants selected the more beautiful face from each pair. The data were analyzed using a Bayesian model which enables inference of the width ratio perceived as most beautiful. Results support the hypothesis that averageness in facial proportions correlates with higher perceived attractiveness. The study highlights the importance of controlling for image manipulation, including attempts at methodological implementation, and of considering ethnicity as a potential moderating variable. These findings offer a data-driven foundation for understanding facial aesthetics and cognitive processes of human perception, with applications in advertising, artificial face generation, and plastic surgery.