Scientists have studied the influence of gaze direction on a person's attractiveness. If you want to appear more attractive to members of the opposite sex, smile and look them directly in the eyes, according to the authors of a new study.
According to hundreds of people, a direct look from a “potential partner” accompanied by a smile is a “look of love” that makes that person eight times more attractive.
The discovery was the result of a survey using computer-altered faces: scientists from the Universities of Aberdeen and Stirling subtly and imperceptibly changed the gaze direction and expression of a “base” face.
This study was one of the first to examine the influence of gaze direction on attractiveness. “When people are asked to identify characteristics of an attractive face, they typically cite healthy skin, symmetrical features, or a strong jaw,” said Ben Jones of the Face Research Laboratory, where the study was conducted. “We show that gaze direction can also have a significant impact on attractiveness.”
In the study, 460 men and women were shown happy faces with wide eyes, unhappy faces with narrowed eyes, and various gaze directions. The results were published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society, Biological Sciences. Faces with direct gaze (looking “at you”) were rated more attractive than faces with averted gaze (looking “away” from you), even if both were smiling.
The effect was observed in people of the same sex, but was especially strong when a person of the opposite sex was looking at the photo. “People prefer faces that they 'like,' which proves that attraction isn't just about physical beauty,” said study co-author Claire Conway. Dr. Jones believes our brains are wired to be attracted to members of the opposite sex who seem more receptive to our amorous advances.
“If you walk into a bar and an attractive member of the opposite sex ignores you or smiles at Brad Pitt across the bar, you're probably not going to buy her a drink. But if you walk in and she sees you and a smile lights up her face, then you might ask her to have a drink,” he said, adding, “Don't tell my wife I said that.” Dr. Jones is married to study co-author Dr. Lisa DeBruyn. A smiling, direct eye contact is four times more attractive than a direct, frowning gaze. When interacting with the opposite sex, a smile combined with direct eye contact can make you eight times more attractive.