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social
You look more attractive when surrounded by other people.
A 2013 study found that faces are rated as more attractive in a group than when shown individually.
The human brain performs an ensemble coding when viewing groups, averaging the features of all faces present. This smoothing effect hides minor facial irregularities that are visible when you are standing alone.
The group does more work for your appearance than you do.
Where this comes from
- Study
- Walker and Vul (2013)
- What the check found
- The study by Drew Walker and Edward Vul (2014, published online in 2013) confirms the claim. The effect is well-documented, though modest in real-world magnitude.
- Confidence
- Well replicated
Related
One of these every day, and every one names the study it came from. When a finding is contested, it says so.