TY - JOUR
T1 - The valence of experiences with faces influences generalized preferences
AU - Jones, Benedict C.
AU - Debruine, Lisa M.
AU - Little, Anthony C.
AU - Feinberg, David R.
PY - 2007/3/1
Y1 - 2007/3/1
N2 - Although it is well-established that generalized face preferences influence a wide range of social outcomes, little is known about the proximate mechanisms through which such preferences develop. In two experiments we show that preferences for composites of faces that had been seen paired with an aversive auditory stimulus were significantly weaker than preferences for composites of faces that had been seen paired with a relatively neutral auditory stimulus, demonstrating that the valence of participants experiences with individual faces influences preferences for novel, physically similar faces. While previous findings for experience with faces on subsequent preferences have emphasized the positive effects of familiarity on attraction to novel, physically similar faces, here we emphasize the effects of the valence of peoples experiences and show that negative experiences can decrease preferences for familiar configurations of facial cues.
AB - Although it is well-established that generalized face preferences influence a wide range of social outcomes, little is known about the proximate mechanisms through which such preferences develop. In two experiments we show that preferences for composites of faces that had been seen paired with an aversive auditory stimulus were significantly weaker than preferences for composites of faces that had been seen paired with a relatively neutral auditory stimulus, demonstrating that the valence of participants experiences with individual faces influences preferences for novel, physically similar faces. While previous findings for experience with faces on subsequent preferences have emphasized the positive effects of familiarity on attraction to novel, physically similar faces, here we emphasize the effects of the valence of peoples experiences and show that negative experiences can decrease preferences for familiar configurations of facial cues.
KW - facial attractiveness
KW - learning
KW - mate preferences
KW - prototypes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=38749110715&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1556/JEP.2007.1001
DO - 10.1556/JEP.2007.1001
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:38749110715
SN - 1789-2082
VL - 5
SP - 119
EP - 129
JO - Journal of Evolutionary Psychology
JF - Journal of Evolutionary Psychology
IS - 1
ER -