Effects of Feature Variations on Attributions for Schematic Faces

Abstract

31 subjects classified 16 schematic faces on six dimensions. Attractiveness was generally associated with widely separated eyes, a short nose, and high feature placement. When features were considered in combination, faces with low placement were judged attractive, although the effect was mitigated by a narrow mouth. Previous findings concerning perceived age and gender were partially replicated, but folk wisdom linking intelligence to low placement (high forehead) was refuted. It is suggested that the relationship between individual features and attributions is nonlinear and interactive, and that researchers should investigate these hypotheses by exercising finer control over feature variations.